Sports
Norway Team Doctor Provides Update on ‘Sickness Bug’ Before England Clash
An update has been provided by Norway’s team doctor after the squad were reportedly hit with an issue days before their crunch World Cup quarter-final clash against England.
Norway, inspired by their world-class centre-forward Erling Haaland, secured their spot in the last eight with an eye-catching 2-1 win over five-time champions Brazil at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday night.
Hours later, at the famous Azteca Stadium, England secured a thrilling 3-2 win over Mexico in a contender for the best game of the tournament.
It means Norway and England will go head-to-head for a place in the 2026 World Cup semi-finals, where they will meet either Argentina or Switzerland. Kick-off is scheduled for 10pm (BST), although there are concerns the start time may be delayed again.
Norway Squad ‘Hit by Sickness Bug’
However, it was widely reported on Tuesday that Norway’s players have been affected by a sickness bug ahead of the clash against Thomas Tuchel’s star-studded squad.
Reports claimed several members of Norway’s squad have experienced flu-like symptoms during the tournament, with manager Stale Solbakken confirming that illness had been circulating throughout camp.
Among the players previously affected, according to Norwegian outfit Dagbladet, were striker Jorgen Strand Larsen, who missed Norway’s opener through illness, and defender Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, who missed the Brazil clash after falling sick.
“I had been in the hospital bed for two days straight and was really sick,” Strand Larsen told Nettavisen, per The Metro. “At first you get scared. I woke up the day before the match and felt it a little, and then it was worse than I had imagined. I got ‘FOMO’ [fear of missing out] and thought I wouldn’t be allowed to join.”
Strand Larsen has since recovered, but there are concerns that the sickness bug affecting the squad may not have been fully eradicated.
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Norway Doctor Issues Update
However, Norway’s team doctor Ola Sand insists reports of a worrying illness in the camp have been overblown.
He told Nettavisen: “All players are healthy now. Very little fuss considering that we have been close together for almost six weeks.”
Asked about headlines in the English media about the alleged ‘sickness bug’, Sand said:
“So great that they believe this. We are in control.”
Meanwhile, Solbakken revealed: “We’ve really only had Jorgen [Strand Larsen] who has had a fever, but then there’s been a bit of coughing and rasping scattered throughout.
“But there’s air conditioning, flights, changing rooms and all that. There’s 50 people [in Norway’s travelling party], so it would be strange if something or other didn’t crop up.”
It seems Sand and Solbakken are convinced they will have their strongest team available for arguably the biggest match in the Norwegian national team’s history.
Sports
Tottenham Handed Transfer Blow as Juventus Schedule Emi Martinez Meeting
Tottenham could have a problem brewing amid reports one of their players may have fallen down the shortlist of another club. Spurs are in the midst of a record-breaking transfer window that has seen them spend more than they ever have, with their spend totaling more than £230million so far.
The North London club will continue to spend, backing Roberto De Zerbi to put together a European qualification attempt next season, and they can afford to do it.
But that doesn’t mean sales are not necessary, with the books needing to be balanced, even if just partially, while De Zerbi will also want to avoid having an overcrowded squad next season. As part of that equation, goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is effectively for sale, but there may be a problem.
Juventus pushing to sign Vicario alternative
According to Sky Italy, Juventus are now advancing their interest in Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who was seen as the one name that was put ahead of Spurs stopper Vicario this summer.
According to the report, Juventus officials are meeting in Italy today, on Wednesday, to discuss a possible deal for Martinez, It’s reported the club officials will discuss whether a deal is possible and how much they are willing to pay to sign the World Cup keeper.
Crucially, it’s added that Vicario is seen as a secondary option, and that the Old Lady will ‘exhaust all options’ to sign Martinez first before moving on to the Spurs player.
Juventus CEO Giovanni Carnevali recently said: “Martinez is playing (at the World Cup) so we have to wait and see.
“He is a goalkeeper who interests us. However, I reiterate what I said earlier regarding Juventus: there could be many opportunities. We need to evaluate things carefully, especially right now, given that the valuations for some players are excessively high—unrealistic figures.”
Spurs relying on Vicario exit this summer
The problem for Tottenham is not only that they will miss out on a chance to land a transfer windfall this summer, with Vicario carrying an asking price of £20million, but Spurs also need to make room.
The North London club have snapped up Martin Dubravka to serve as the club’s new back-up, and they have given Antonin Kinsky a new contract, effectively making him a number one.
The reality is that Spurs no longer have a spot for Vicario, and they will be relying on a sale this summer. The keeper is said to want a move back to Italy this summer, and if Juventus are not interested, Vicario’s chances of finding a new club in Italy are likely to be drastically reduced. That could be a problem for the goalkeeper, and perhaps a bigger one for Spurs.
Sports
Egypt File Complaint and Post Stunning Statement After Argentina Loss
Egypt have filed a complaint and posted a stunning statement on social media following their dramatic defeat to Argentina at the 2026 World Cup.
The African nation looked as if they were going to pull off a shock when they led 2-0 with 15 minutes of the last 16 clash remaining. It wasn’t to be for The Pharaohs, though, as Argentina scored three late goals to break Egyptian hearts.
Hossam Hassan’s side were absolutely furious after Enzo Fernandez’s winner in the 93rd minute. They believed that Mohamed Salah was felled in the build-up to the goal and that it should not have counted.
They were also reeling that they had a goal disallowed earlier in the second half when Lisandro Martinez was adjudged to have been fouled in the build-up.
Egypt Make Complaint to FIFA
Speaking after the match, Egypt manager Hassan claimed that the game was ‘rigged’ to allow Argentina and Lionel Messi to stay in the competition.
He said: “They want Argentina and Messi to stay in the World Cup for marketing. If they wanted Argentina to win, why invite other teams to participate? This match was clearly rigged, and the whole world witnessed it.
“We were better than Argentina, and football is unfair. We had a clear penalty that the referee didn’t award, and Ziko’s goal at the start of the second half was disallowed, even though it was perfectly legitimate.”
Spanish publication AS have now reported that Egyptian Football Association president Hany Abo Rida has submitted a formal complaint against French referee François Letexier and his officiating team following the match.
Egypt are seeking an explanation and have called for an investigation into what they describe as controversial decisions. The federation has also officially called for the French officiating team to be removed from the remainder of the tournament.
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Egypt Post Statement
The Egyptian FA have now posted an extraordinary statement on social media. It started: “The Egyptian Football Association extends its sincere gratitude to the Egyptian people everywhere for their unwavering support, loyalty, and belief in the national team throughout our FIFA World Cup journey.
“The exceptional support shown by millions of Egyptians, both at home and around the world, was a source of immense pride and motivation for our players and delegation. The national team represented Egypt with honor, determination, and courage, delivering performances that reflected the spirit and character of our nation.
“At the same time, the Egyptian Football Association cannot remain silent regarding the refereeing decisions witnessed during the match against Argentina as well as the failure to make appropriate use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system. Several key incidents raised serious concerns and left profound questions about the consistency and fairness of decisions that directly influenced the course of the game.
“A number of football experts and specialist analysts, both locally and internationally, have highlighted controversial and influential refereeing incidents during the match. This underlines the importance of maintaining the highest standards of integrity, fairness, and transparency in match officiating, particularly in a competition of the stature and significance of the FIFA World Cup 2026.”
They continued: “Egyptian football has always respected the principles of fair play, sporting integrity, and respect for the game. These same principles require that all teams compete on equal terms and receive equal treatment. What occurred during the match has understandably generated widespread frustration among our players, staff, and supporters, who expected the highest standards of officiating on football’s biggest stage.
“Defending the rights and interests of the Egyptian national team is not a matter that can be ignored, minimized, or treated as secondary. It is a responsibility that we carry with full conviction and determination. Every player who wears the Egyptian shirt, and every supporter who stands behind the team, deserves fairness, respect, and equal application of the laws of the game.”
Sports
Maxxine Dupri’s Real-Life Husband Makes Feelings Clear After Austin Theory Kiss
Professional wrestling star Kam Hendrix has spoken out following the recent viral footage of real-life wife and fellow wrestler Maxxine Dupri kissing Austin Theory.
The incident occurred on the latest episode of WWE Raw, following Theory’s triumph alongside The Vision partner Bron Breakker in the World Tag Team Championship match against The Street Profits in Rosemont, Illinois.
Theory and Breakker were looking to take down the reigning holders, Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford, and regain the crown from the same duo that snatched it from them a fortnight ago on Raw in London.
The Vision appeared to be on the cusp of defeat once more in the latest tag team title showdown, as Theory was set to be struck by Dawkins with brass knuckles late on in the contest.
The Vision member, Logan Paul, attempted to intervene at one point in the fight, but he was dismissed by the referee and could not stop what was appearing to be an inevitable defeat for his stablemates.
However, Dupri made a sudden appearance during the fight’s climax, stepping in to stop Theory getting hit and landing a low blow on Dawkins.
Maxxine Dupri Joins The Vision on Monday Night Raw
This dramatic intervention allowed Theory to pin down Dawkins and land the clinching move, making The Vision champions once more and ending The Street Profits’ short run as holders.
However, the drama did not stop there, as this is when Dupri was seen embracing Theory and sharing a kiss with him. The moment confirmed Dupri’s allegiance to The Vision and on-screen romance with Theory after much backstage speculation.
The viral moment caused many wrestling fans to question how Hendrix felt seeing his wife kiss Theory on the 6th of July Raw broadcast.
Maxxine Dupri’s Real-Life Husband Responds to Kiss
Hendrix, whose real name is Anthony Luke, married Dupri, real name Sydney Zmrzel, last December after about seven years of dating.
It turns out Hendrix was not bothered in the slightest by the incident involving his wife and Theory, as his response on his official X account read: “Damn, didn’t realise how many people were jealous of Kam Hendrix! Feels kinda good, actually.”
Hendrix obviously understands the entertainment and scripted nature of professional wrestling, having been a member of WWE for two years now, so the matter involving Dupri will clearly not bother him.
WWE fans invested in The Vision’s story will be keen to know how Theory and Dupri’s on-screen romance develops and how it could play a part in future events.
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