Reece James remains uncertain for England’s World Cup quarter-final showdown with Norway in Miami this Saturday, as he was once again unable to train with the group on Wednesday.
The full-back has been missing since suffering a hamstring injury in England’s second group-stage fixture, a goalless draw against Ghana in Boston. Thomas Tuchel was aware he would be without him for at least two matches, and most likely a potential last‑16 tie as well, which is exactly what transpired. James played no part in the thrilling triumph over Mexico at the Estadio Azteca on Sunday.
James had been targeting a return in the quarter-finals, yet it was a discouraging signal that he followed an individual programme away from the main squad in Kansas City, where England are based. Tuchel now has a serious problem at right-back. Jarell Quansah started in that role against Mexico but was sent off and is suspended for the Norway contest.
Declan Rice and Marc Guéhi also trained separately on Wednesday, though there is far less anxiety over their availability to face Norway. Rice has managed nerve-related hamstring pain since Christmas and was forced to miss the third group game, a 2-0 win against Panama. He has continued to insist he can play through the discomfort. Guéhi’s absence from the team session was put down to muscle fatigue.
Jordan Henderson has returned to the England camp in Kansas City rather than heading home after his severe arm fracture. The midfielder sustained the injury in a freak fall following the Mexico match and stayed in Mexico City to undergo surgery. He remains keen to help the squad with his leadership and experience. It had been assumed Henderson would not feature again in the tournament, although his teammate Morgan Rogers hinted the players have not yet ruled him out.
“His return simply shows what kind of person he is,” Rogers said. “Hopefully he can still be involved with us as we go through the remainder of the tournament. He won’t write himself off and neither will we. The belief he has in his own body, his talent, his self‑assurance … his character and what he stands for is absolutely huge for our group. He’s the heartbeat of the team.”
Tuchel and the players had a short break after the emotion and physical drain of the Mexico match, with Rogers saying everyone felt “a bit lifeless and worn out afterwards”. There was a warm‑down session in Kansas City on Monday and a full day off on Tuesday, when the players were able to spend time with their families.
Morgan Rogers addressed the media on Wednesday, saying the squad’s Kansas City training base ‘feels like home’. Photograph: Richard Pelham/Getty Images
England have flown in and out of Kansas City for every match, and Rogers said the advantages of having a permanent base camp were obvious. Norway have adopted the opposite approach, travelling from venue to venue. “The only downside is the journey back,” Rogers said. “You just want to get to your bed as quickly as possible, and sometimes that can take longer than you’d like.
“The positives are huge – it feels like home, it feels cosy. You can just relax and unwind, and you know your surroundings and your space. We enjoy returning. It’s really worked out well for us.”
Rogers also sent a warning to Norway, saying Jude Bellingham, who has been in explosive form during the tournament, is ready to impose himself on the quarter‑final and, more broadly, is only going to improve. “Of course he can,” Rogers said. “He’s only 23. His prime years lie ahead of him. There’s a long way to go, and he would probably say the same.
“The really exciting thing is just how far he can go; there’s no ceiling on what he can achieve. I’m not surprised [by his World Cup performances] and nobody in the squad is … by how he’s taken big, crucial moments in matches. You need your top players to step up, and he’s done that in practically every game so far.”
What do you feel about this post?
Like
Love
Happy
Haha
Sad
