England Players Hold Diving Contest Before Norway Quarterfinal as 1 Teammate Recently Suffered Celebration Injury

Q: Why did an England star, with a broken jaw, wear socks in a pool before a World Cup quarterfinal?

It is not publicly established why Djed Spence wore socks in the pool, and the available reporting does not give a confirmed explanation. What is clear is that Spence, who is playing for England with a broken jaw protected by a custom carbon-fiber brace, was filmed during a team diving session before the World Cup quarterfinal against Norway. The socks became a talking point because they were unusual, not because officials or the player linked them to his jaw injury. The most responsible reading is that it was likely a personal comfort or practical choice rather than anything medically tied to the broken jaw. Athletes sometimes wear socks or pool footwear around wet surfaces for grip, hygiene, or to avoid irritation from rough pool decks, but no England source has said that was the reason here. So the short answer is that nobody credible has confirmed why he did it. The broken jaw explains the protective brace he has been wearing during the tournament, but there is no evidence that it explains the socks in the pool.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 8

England’s squad posted a team diving competition on social media as players relaxed ahead of their World Cup quarterfinal against Norway.
The pool session appeared to be a bonding break from match preparation, with players taking turns jumping from diving boards.
The lighthearted contest came soon after England lost one player to an injury suffered while hopping an advertising board during post-match celebrations.
That timing puts extra focus on injury risk before a knockout match, with England next facing Norway and Erling Haaland.