Thomas Tuchel expects Chelsea captain Reece James to be fit for England’s World Cup quarter-final against Norway on July 11, offering a major boost to a squad chasing its first global title since 1966. James has been sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained during England’s group-stage match against Ghana, but the 26-year-old right-back appears to be winning the race against time.
England advanced to the last eight after a dramatic knockout-round victory over Mexico. Getting their starting right-back and team leader back for the biggest match of the tournament so far? That’s the kind of timing coaches dream about.
What happened and why it matters
James picked up the hamstring issue during the group stage and hasn’t been able to train fully since.
Tuchel, who managed James at Chelsea before taking the England job, knows the defender’s body and recovery patterns better than most international managers would. That familiarity matters when you’re deciding whether to risk a player in a quarter-final.
