Reece James remains a doubt for England’s World Cup quarter-final against Norway in Miami on Saturday after the right-back was once again unable to train with the squad on Wednesday. The Chelsea defender has been unavailable since injuring a hamstring in England’s second group game, the 0-0 draw against Ghana in Boston. Thomas Tuchel knew he would be without him for at least two games – and most likely a potential last‑16 match, which is what happened. James played no part in the epic victory against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca on Sunday. He had been targeting a return in the quarter-finals but it was not a positive sign to see that he followed an individual programme away from the main group in Kansas City where England are based.
Tuchel has a major problem at right-back. Jarell Quansah started in the position against Mexico but was sent off and is banned for the Norway game. Declan Rice and Marc Guéhi also trained individually on Wednesday but there is less concern over their involvement against Norway. Rice has managed nerve pain in a hamstring since Christmas and was forced to sit out the third group game, the 2-0 victory against Panama. He has maintained that he is able to play on through the discomfort. Guéhi’s absence from team training was attributed to muscle fatigue.
“Reece James likely out of England's World Cup quarter-final after missing training again.”
Jordan Henderson has returned to the England camp in Kansas City rather than head home after his grisly arm fracture. The midfielder sustained the injury in a freak fall following the Mexico game and remained in Mexico City to undergo surgery. He remains eager to help the squad with his leadership and experience. It has been presumed that Henderson will not play again at the tournament, although his teammate Morgan Rogers suggested the players were not yet ruling him out. “Him coming back just shows exactly what he’s like as a person,” Rogers said. “Hopefully he can still be involved with us going through the rest of the tournament. He’s not going to rule himself out and neither are we. The belief he’s got in his own body, his ability, his confidence … the way he is and what he represents as a person is massive to our group. He’s the heartbeat of the group.”
Anthony Gordon, meanwhile, says the current England squad is the best group he has been part of “by a country mile.” The Barcelona winger, who provided two assists for Harry Kane against DR Congo and won a penalty against Mexico, says that is down to Thomas Tuchel creating a “brotherhood” within the squad. “Camplife is amazing. I am absolutely loving it,” Gordon said. “We have got an unbelievable group, the best England group I have been a part of by a country mile, in terms of chemistry, in terms of connection, not just on the pitch but off the pitch.” Tuchel and the players enjoyed a mini‑break after the emotion and physical exertion of the Mexico match, with Rogers saying everybody was “a bit tired and a bit dead afterwards”. There was a warm-down session in Kansas City on Monday and a complete day off on Tuesday.