ไทย
English
中國人
The excitement that swept through English football following a convincing 4–2 win over Croatia has largely faded after an all-too-predictable goalless draw.
It was the kind of display against a stubborn Ghanaian defensive setup that left pundits wishing for those omitted from the squad, from Cole Palmer to Adam Wharton, and now many are questioning Thomas Tuchel's choice to bring in another centerback to replace Tino Livramento, rather than a fullback.
Trevoh Chalobah's inclusion placed considerable trust in Reece James's ability to remain healthy over the coming weeks. Despite being an exceptional player in two positions, James doesn't receive the recognition he arguably deserves due to persistent fitness concerns. He has struggled to stay healthy, with a knee injury keeping him out of the last World Cup in Qatar.
Hamstring problems have continued to plague James, and England are now anxious about yet another injury setback ahead of their crucial encounter with Panama on Saturday.
England Dealt Double Injury Scare Ahead of Panama Clash
Tuchel appeared composed following the Ghana stalemate, but the German coach may now be feeling the pressure after news of James's latest setback emerged.
According to the BBC, both he and Declan Rice were absent from training ahead of the Panama fixture, a match England will almost certainly need to win to finish top of Group L. James, who is believed to have picked up a hamstring injury during the Ghana game, is considered a serious doubt for the Matchday 3 encounter.
There is less alarm surrounding Rice, who was spotted with strapping on his left calf as he left Gillette Stadium on Tuesday. The Arsenal midfielder disclosed last week that he has been managing nerve-related hamstring pain since December, but maintained that he is ready to compete in this summer's tournament.
Rice, like James, featured in both of England's first two matches.
Who Could Replace Reece James and Declan Rice?
James is not expected to be available for Saturday's match at MetLife Stadium, and certainly not from the start. With Livramento absent, there is only one truly natural option in England's squad: Djed Spence.
Spence was a somewhat unexpected addition to Tuchel's squad, having delivered only inconsistent performances for Tottenham Hotspur toward the end of last season. Nevertheless, the German manager rates his athleticism and defensive ability in one-on-one situations. He started at left back in the Ghana fixture.
Spence is the most straightforward choice to fill in for James, though England also has Ezri Konsa and Jarell Quansah available, both of whom have previously been deployed at right back.
SI answers is our AI answer engine trained on human-created content.
Tuchel may also be reluctant to risk Rice, given his heavy workload and the fact that one more booking would trigger a one-game suspension. Should Rice be unavailable, Jude Bellingham could drop back from his No. 10 position to partner Elliot Anderson, with Morgan Rogers potentially earning a place in the starting lineup.
Kobbie Mainoo and Jordan Henderson are also part of the Three Lions' squad and remain options for Tuchel to weigh up.