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Injuries derail training
England’s World Cup last-32 preparations were hit when defenders Jarell Quansah and Reece James missed training ahead of the round-of-32 clash with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Jarell Quansah and Reece James missed training as England's right-back issues mount before their World Cup last-32 match against DR Congo on Wednesday”
Quansah was sidelined with an ankle injury he suffered during England’s 2-0 win over Panama in their final group game on Saturday, while James missed that match after hurting his hamstring in a 0-0 draw with Ghana.
Both players were following individual training programmes, and the absence of the pair left manager Thomas Tuchel facing defensive concerns before Wednesday’s knockout match.
The BBC said Quansah came off with a twisted ankle in the 2-0 win over Panama, with Djed Spence coming on to replace the Bayer Leverkusen defender, and it noted that James’s involvement looked doubtful because he had not resumed training since his injury.
Tuchel weighs right-back
With Quansah and James absent from the final training session, Tuchel faced a selection headache over who would start at right-back in Atlanta on Wednesday.
The Independent reported that Tuchel was considering Djed Spence, typically a left-back, or Aston Villa centre-half Ezri Konsa for the right-back slot, while it also said Declan Rice participated in Tuesday’s session at England’s Kansas City training base.
The BBC added that Tuchel could look to utilise Spence at right-back again or opt to use Ezri Konsa, and it described Konsa as one of Tuchel’s most trusted players and a regular starter since the German took charge in January 2025.
The Independent also quoted an England X account statement confirming the absences: "All England squad members are out training at Swope Soccer Village this morning apart from Reece James and Jarell Quansah who are following their own programmes."
Knockout stakes rise
The injuries at right-back add pressure as England enter the knockout stages with defensive uncertainty before their match against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“England faces right-back crisis ahead of DR Congo World Cup clash With James, Quansah, and Livramento all sidelined, Tuchel is running out of options at right-back before England's first knockout match in Atlanta”
The Independent said the winner of Wednesday’s match will face either co-hosts Mexico or Ecuador in the round of 16, while it also noted that DR Congo reached the last-32 by beating Uzbekistan 3-1 on Saturday.
The BBC said the right-back issues have put scrutiny on Tuchel’s squad selection for the tournament, and it pointed to earlier disruption when Newcastle full-back Tino Livramento withdrew from the squad with a calf issue and Trevoh Chalobah was called up in his place.
In the background of the selection debate, the BBC also recorded Tuchel’s earlier comments that James could be in contention, but it stressed that given James had not resumed training since picking up his injury, his involvement looked doubtful.
