A significant setback.
This Saturday evening, England is set to face Panama as they aim to solidify their lead in Group L.
However, just 24 hours before the match, Thomas Tuchel delivered some unfortunate news: his starting right-back, Reece James, will miss at least the upcoming match for the Three Lions.
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“Reece is dealing with a minor issue in his thigh, specifically a slight hamstring injury. He hasn’t been able to participate in training for the past two days. He’s now following an accelerated rehab program, and we will evaluate his status on a game-by-game basis, but we are optimistic that he will be back during the tournament,” Tuchel stated.
According to reports from The Guardian, James’ absence could extend to at least two matches, which would be a significant loss for the Three Lions, especially with a potential clash against Portugal looming in the round of 16.
It’s worth noting that England had already lost another right-back to injury just prior to the World Cup, with Tino Livramento also sidelined. During his press conference, Thomas Tuchel left some ambiguity about who would step in for James.
“We’ve called up Trevor Chalobah to take over the right-back position. I found him to be quite solid in that role while playing for Liverpool, and he has also played well in a back three. Additionally, we have Djed Spence. Nobody anticipated this turn of events,” he explained.
This article has been translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.