Norway thank FIFA for hotel switch before 'biggest ever' World Cup quarter-final against England

Norway's World Cup quarter-final against England has been hailed as "the biggest event ever in Norway" — a showdown that almost unravelled before a ball was kicked. The Scandinavian nation's squad was forced to abandon their five-star hotel in Fort Lauderdale after a nightmare run of illness, noise from a neighbouring construction project, and basic logistical failures. Captain Martin Odegaard admitted "there were some things that could have been better", while head coach Stale Solbakken said the team lacked an adequate room for meetings. Truls Daehli, head of the national team’s World Cup delegation, described the situation as "brutal". With players suffering from what Daehli called a risk of "bed sores", Norway took action. "We eventually decided to take action, because now we are in week six and will be staying here for a whole week," Daehli told TV2. "And the match we are going to play now is the biggest match we have ever played." FIFA intervened, moving their entire package — including 50 rooms, security and transportation — to a new hotel. "We have been met with good understanding from FIFA," Daehli said. "We are incredibly satisfied." The disruption behind them, Norway can focus on a team that has already stunned the world. After a perfect qualifying campaign and a first World Cup appearance since 1998, Solbakken's men beat Ivory Coast 2-1 and then shocked Brazil by the same scoreline. Erling Haaland has been in red-hot form, scoring seven goals in four games — including a double against Brazil. England, meanwhile, knocked out co-hosts Mexico with a thrilling 3-2 win in the Azteca. Saturday's quarter-final in Miami will pit Haaland against England's Harry Kane in a clash that Norway's players and fans already consider their biggest ever.