Reece James is out. Thomas Tuchel would like you to know that nobody saw it coming.
The England manager addressed the media ahead of the national team’s Group L fixture against Panama on June 28, 2026, confirming that James has been ruled out of the match due to a hamstring injury sustained during England’s earlier draw with Ghana. Tuchel’s message was clear, and his defense of his squad selection choices was firm.
“No one could see that coming,” Tuchel said, in what doubles as both an injury update and a pre-emptive answer to anyone planning to ask why James was in the squad to begin with.
What happened to Reece James
James picked up the hamstring problem during England’s group-stage draw with Ghana. For James specifically, the timing is frustrating in a way that goes beyond one missed match. The Chelsea right-back has a well-documented history with hamstring injuries, making each new recurrence a cause for careful management rather than casual optimism.
