Familiar Nightmare Returns for James
England have a serious problem. Reece James has suffered a hamstring injury and will miss at least the next two World Cup games, per The Guardian. The timing could hardly be worse. England are building momentum in the tournament, and their captain at right-back is suddenly out of the picture.
James picked up the issue during England’s cagey goalless draw with Ghana and failed to report for full training, leaving the Three Lions medical staff on high alert. This is not simply a precaution. Staff are highly reluctant to take unnecessary risks given the 26-year-old’s substantial history of muscular layoffs. That history looms large over every decision. James has battled hamstring problems repeatedly throughout his career at club and international level. Each recurrence carries a heavier weight than the last.
The cruelty of the situation is hard to ignore. James had spoken before the tournament about what this World Cup meant to him personally. He missed the Qatar 2022 edition entirely through injury and had vowed to give everything for England at this tournament. Two games in, the body has betrayed him again. Two matches minimum on the sideline. Possibly more.
Tuchel Short of Right-Back Options
Thomas Tuchel now faces a real selection puzzle on the right side of his defence. Options are thin. Tino Livramento had already been ruled out of the entire tournament before England kicked a ball, leaving James as the only natural right-back in the squad. With James also now sidelined, Tuchel must improvise.
Djed Spence is listed in the squad as a fullback option, though he arrived at the tournament only just returning from his own injury issues. Throwing him into a knockout-stage run without rhythm or recent minutes is a gamble. Tuchel may instead look at shifting a midfielder wide or asking a centre-back to cover the role. Neither solution is comfortable at this stage of a World Cup.
There is at least one positive in the injury update. Declan Rice, who also missed a training session and was spotted leaving the Ghana game with strapping on his calf, appears to be a lesser concern, with the Arsenal midfielder himself insisting he is fine. England need Rice fit and firing. His absence alongside James would truly test the squad’s depth. For now, Tuchel has one less problem to solve. But the James situation remains a genuine headache heading into the knockout rounds.
Keep up with all of England’s World Cup updates, player ratings, and match previews at kcpredict.com. For the full fitness picture on England’s squad ahead of the Panama clash, ESPN’s dedicated England World Cup page has the latest.