Guehi and Rice return to training to boost Tuchel ahead of England's World Cup quarter-final against Norway

Marc Guehi and Declan Rice have returned to training and are in contention to play as England prepare for their 2026 World Cup quarter-final against Norway in Miami tonight, offering Thomas Tuchel a significant boost ahead of one of the tournament’s most anticipated last-eight ties.

Guehi had been nursing a hamstring strain sustained during England’s victory over co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, while Rice was kept away from the squad with illness amid fears the bug could spread through the camp. Both players trained on Friday, raising hopes they will be fit to start.

The positive news comes at a critical time for Tuchel, who is already without Jarell Quansah for the clash. The centre-back was handed a two-match ban following his red card against Mexico, leaving England’s defensive options stretched heading into the quarter-final.

Norway arrive in Miami on the back of a notable scalp, having knocked out Brazil in the previous round. Erling Haaland, their talismanic striker, is in formidable form and has publicly placed the pressure on England, suggesting he may relish the opportunity to exploit any disruption to Tuchel’s backline.

England, meanwhile, are riding their own wave of momentum after what many are calling one of the country’s greatest World Cup performances — a hard-fought win on Mexican soil in front of a hostile crowd at the Azteca. Tuchel will be eager to maintain that defensive solidity, making the potential returns of Guehi and Rice all the more significant.

With the semi-finals at stake, both sides enter the tie with genuine belief. Norway’s run to the last eight has been built on collective energy and Haaland’s clinical finishing, while England’s campaign has been defined by resilience and big-game temperament. Whether Guehi and Rice are passed fit in time will likely shape how Tuchel sets his team up to contain the Premier League’s most lethal striker.