England Duo Reece James and Declan Rice to Be Assessed Ahead of Panama Clash
June 26, 2026 · Antonio García
England faces potential absences of Reece James and Declan Rice due to injuries ahead of their crucial World Cup match against Panama, with James undergoing assessment for hamstring tightness.
England are facing uncertainty regarding the fitness of key players Reece James and Declan Rice ahead of their crucial final group stage match against Panama at the World Cup, as reported by the BBC. The Three Lions currently have four points from their two Group L matches, making this fixture a must-win to secure advancement to the knockout stages as group leaders.
James is set to undergo assessment after experiencing tightness in his hamstring, although the severity of his injury remains uncertain. Given James' history of injuries, England's coaching staff are expected to adopt a cautious approach. The Chelsea captain has played every minute in the tournament so far, including full matches against Croatia and Ghana, but managing his fitness is imperative.
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If James is ruled out for the match, head coach Thomas Tuchel may consider reshuffling the backline, with Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa potentially moving to right back, despite having played at centre-back in the previous matches. Trevoh Chalobah is also an option, having been called up to replace the injured Valentino Livramento.
Rice's situation appears to be less concerning, although it is still being monitored. The Arsenal midfielder was seen with strapping on his left calf following the draw against Ghana but assured reporters that he was feeling well. Rice has been managing nerve pain since Christmas, which resurfaced during England's 4-2 victory over Croatia, where he played for 72 minutes.
On a positive note, there is increasing optimism regarding Bukayo Saka's fitness as he continues to recover from an Achilles issue that has limited his appearances. Although he has not yet started in the tournament, Saka has made a notable impact as a substitute, particularly with a strong performance against Ghana that almost resulted in a goal and an assist for Marcus Rashford against Croatia.
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