England manager Thomas Tuchel has defended his full-back selection policy after confirming that Reece James will miss Saturday's World Cup match against Panama due to a hamstring injury. James was assessed by England's medical team following a goalless draw against Ghana.
Tuchel stated that James did not travel from Kansas City to New Jersey for the final Group L game, scheduled for 22:00 BST. However, he expressed hope that James could participate in a potential last-32 match next week.
Despite this optimism, sources indicate that James is a significant doubt for the knockout stages if England qualifies. The injury, along with Tino Livramento's calf issue that led to his return home, raises questions about Tuchel's decision to bring only three recognized full-backs to the tournament.
Tuchel's options include Djed Spence, James, and Livramento, while Nico O'Reilly, primarily a midfielder, and Dan Burn, a center-back, are also in the squad. Tuchel remarked, "Yes, I am happy with my options at right-back.
I selected the team, so I’m very happy with everything with the characteristic of the players and strengths that they give us."
Tuchel acknowledged the injury history of both James and Livramento but remains confident that James will return if England progresses. He noted, "It’s a minor hamstring issue. He’s now on an accelerated rehabilitation program, and we take it game by game, but we strongly believe that he will be available during the tournament."
In more positive news, Tuchel confirmed that Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Elliot Anderson would be available for the match against Panama. Rice and Anderson missed training on Thursday but returned on Friday, while Tuchel indicated that Saka is ready to start after recovering from Achilles tendinitis.
