Captain Houghton’s fitness was always in question after she was hurt in a challenge by Cameroon’s Alexandra Takounda during the final stages of Sunday’s ill-tempered last-16 win.

But her defensive partner Bright is suffering from an illness, which head coach Phil Neville said has also affected other members of England’s travelling party.

“Both major doubts,” Neville revealed. “Steph because of the tackle. We’re hoping she takes part in the training today, that’s the key for Steph.

“Millie has a virus that’s going through the camp. She’s more of a doubt. It’s a simple virus. Sickness, I suppose. She’s picked it up in the last couple of days. She’s in her room, recovering at this moment in time.

Women's World Cup 2019 power rankings Show all 16 1 /16 Women's World Cup 2019 power rankings Women's World Cup 2019 power rankings 1. United States With France out of the way, it looks theirs to win. Megan Rapinoe's brace saw them through at the Parc des Princes, but their defence showed why Jill Ellis' side will not be easy to break down. Getty Women's World Cup 2019 power rankings 2. England Excellent against Norway, in their most complete performance of the World Cup to date. Lucy Bronze demonstrated why she is among the world's best. Her and her team-mates need a repeat performance on Tuesday. Getty Images Women's World Cup 2019 power rankings 3. Netherlands Their patience paid off against Italy, with two set-piece goals deep in the second half finally seeing them through. Room to improve and work to be done, but will be confident of reaching a first final. Getty Images Women's World Cup 2019 power rankings 4. Sweden Produced the shock of the tournament so far to beat Germany and earn their fourth semi-final appearance, having initially gone behind too. Well-organised at the back and Stina Blackstenius is a nuisance up front. Getty Images Women's World Cup 2019 power rankings 5. France Eliminated in quarter-finals. Easily good enough for a semi-final place but ran up against the United States and made the mistake of going behind early against a well-drilled defence. Getty Images Women's World Cup 2019 power rankings 6. Italy Eliminated in quarter-finals. As expected, the Netherlands proved a bridge too far for the tournament's surprise package, but they will return home with their heads held high after an impressive showing. Getty Images Women's World Cup 2019 power rankings 7. Norway Eliminated in quarter-finals. Another team who fell behind early in the last eight and rarely looked like coming back. Deserve credit for reaching the quarters but overshadowed in Scandinavia by the Swedes. Getty Images Women's World Cup 2019 power rankings 8. Germany Eliminated in quarter-finals. Unconvincing for so long, they always seemed to do enough, but those displays finally caught up with them, but even so, few saw defeat coming against Sweden. Getty Images Women's World Cup 2019 power rankings 9. Brazil Eliminated from the last 16. Deserved to go further, having taken six points from the toughest group and taken the hosts to extra time, but France proved to have too much for Marta and her team-mates. Getty Images Women's World Cup 2019 power rankings 10. Canada Eliminated from the last 16. Leaving so early is a disappointment given their no. 5 world ranking, though you would never have guessed it from their conservative approach. Rarely looked like scoring against Sweden, the missed penalty aside. Getty Images Women's World Cup 2019 power rankings 11. Japan Eliminated from the last 16. Reaching a third successive final was always likely to be beyond this squad, though will still depart with a hint of disappointment. Their exit meant there are no Asian sides in the quarter-finals for the first time in Women’s World Cup history. Getty Images Women's World Cup 2019 power rankings 12. Spain Eliminated from the last 16. Saved their best performance of the tournament until their last game. On another day, could have upset an out-of-sorts United States but must add incision to their patient possession game. Getty Images Women's World Cup 2019 power rankings 13. Australia Eliminated from the last 16. Entertainers throughout, responsible for three of the tournament’s best games so far, though never looked long for this World Cup. Despite her penalty miss, Sam Kerr is a loss to proceedings. Getty Images Women's World Cup 2019 power rankings 14. China Eliminated from the last 16. Once a force in the women’s game, defeat to Italy reflected their diminished status. A little unlucky to be placed in one of the toughest groups and thereby only qualify in third. Getty Images Women's World Cup 2019 power rankings 15. Nigeria Eliminated from the last 16. The meek exit at the hands of Germany was a mismatch, but Thomas Dennerby’s side arguably deserved more from their group stage performances having tested both France and Norway. Getty Images Women's World Cup 2019 power rankings 16. Cameroon Eliminated from the last 16. Deserve credit for reaching the knock-out stages when unfancied, though will be remembered for their conduct and loss of composure in their defeat to England. Getty Images

Lucy Bronze missed training on Tuesday with an illness, though Neville said she would be available to play against Norway and is not taking extra precautions to prevent the ‘virus’ in question from spreading.

“You guys are travelling around together, we’re travelling around together. You’re going to pick up bugs along the way.

“Touchwood, we’ve been lucky, we’ve had no injuries or illnesses. It’s par for the course, it happens in life. [Bright] is more than likely going to be fit but at this moment in time, she is a doubt.”

If both Houghton and Bright are absent, Neville is likely to turn to Abbie McManus and Leah Williamson at the heart of his defence.

Neville’s policy of heavily rotating his players has been questioned in the past, though the England head coach believes it will allow them to cope better with injury and illness.

“It’s for moments like this where we can say: ‘No problem’. We bring two people who know the system and style. It’s a seamless transition.

“We don’t want to get to the quarter-finals of the World Cup and throw a young kid in, or someone who’s untested and doesn’t know the system.