England midfielder Declan Rice and defenders Marc Guehi and Reece James all trained on the eve of Saturday's World Cup quarter-final against Norway, a massive boost for England as they push for a semi-final spot. With the tournament getting down to the wire, seeing these key players out there is exactly what fans needed to hear.
The Big Three Are Back, Almost
This is huge, folks. Declan Rice, after battling a nasty sickness bug that aggravated a neural issue in his hamstring and lower back, was back out there. You just know that guy is tough as nails to push through something like that. Then there's Marc Guehi, who had a slight hamstring complaint after England's intense 3-2 win over Mexico in the last 16. He trained under the watchful eye of Sir David Beckham, no less, showing that he's ready to go. And Reece James, who's been out for three games, returned to training as expected on Thursday and was back again Friday. Talk about perfect timing. The only squad player missing now is Jordan Henderson, who had surgery on a broken arm. Coach Thomas Tuchel has to be feeling good about his options heading into this massive match.Defensive Puzzles and Heroics
James's return is particularly clutch because right-back has been a real problem position for England, hit hard by injuries and suspensions. Jarell Quansah, who started at right-back against Mexico, is now banned for two games after a red card in that last-16 tie. Tino Livramento was already out with a calf injury before the tournament even started, making way for Trevoh Chalobah in the squad. If James hadn't returned, Djed Spence was potentially the only natural right-back left. That's a tight spot. Central defender Ezri Konsa even had to cover at right wing-back after Quansah's dismissal against Mexico. He told BBC Sport it was mentally tough, running out in the heat with a man down, but his teammate John Stones kept pushing him. Stones even offered to swap, but Konsa stayed strong. That kind of grit and team play is exactly what you need in the World Cup! England is fighting to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup for only the fourth time in history. They'll face Norway on Saturday at Miami Stadium. Every single play in this quarter-final matters, and with these key players back in action, England's chances just got a whole lot stronger. Let's see if they can punch their ticket!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.