Reece James looks likely to miss England’s next match at the 2026 World Cup, as manager Thomas Tuchel is sure to face intense scrutiny after leaving Trent Alexander-Arnold out of his squad.
The Chelsea right-back is once again reeling from the fitness issues that have plagued him for much of his career at Stamford Bridge, but England do not appear to be putting James at risk for their next game against Panama.
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It’s mixed news for England, as James will likely miss the next game, according to the Telegraph, but Declan Rice is awaiting clearance, so that might sound a little more positive.
Still, Tuchel’s problems at right-back mean Tuchel is likely to have to decide whether to use Jed Spence, Jarrell Quansah or Ezri Konsa in that position.
England will forever regret Thomas Tuchel’s disrespect for Trent Alexander-Arnold
James is a great player, but leaving Alexander-Arnold out of the World Cup squad already looks like a huge mistake.
Quite simply, if England had to play against top teams in the finals with Spence, Quansah or Konsa at right-back, it would be a huge step back from what James offers.
It seems strange that Tuchel did not include Alexander-Arnold in his squad, given the Chelsea defender’s terrible injury history.
The former Liverpool player may not have had the best debut season at Real Madrid, but he remains a man with world-class cross-passing and great passing width.
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Even if the plan was to make James the first choice, there was still definitely a role for Alexander-Arnold who could fill in the midfield if needed.
England will probably be fine against teams like Panama, but one of Tuchel’s biggest calls heading into this World Cup already appears to have backfired badly.
