Thomas Tuchel admits key England worry before World Cup knockout stage begins

In partnership with

Evening Standard

·28 juin 2026

Thomas Tuchel admits key England worry before World Cup knockout stage begins

Three Lions have an obvious problem before they face DR Congo in the round of 32 on Wednesday

Thomas Tuchel has admitted that he is “worried” about England’s right-back issues at the World Cup after their injury plight worsened against Panama.

Vidéos OneFootball

The Three Lions won 2-0 in rainy New Jersey on Saturday thanks to a quick-fire second-half double from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, which sealed their place as Group L winners and set up a last-32 tie with DR Congo in Atlanta on Wednesday.

First-choice right-back Reece James missed that game with a hamstring injury which may also rule the Chelsea captain out of the meeting with DR Congo.

Tuchel turned to Jarell Quansah to start against Panama as he made five changes to the side that laboured to a frustrating goalless draw with Ghana in Boston on Tuesday, with Nico O’Reilly, Morgan Rogers, Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford also coming in to replace Djed Spence, Declan Rice, Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke.

But Quansah limped off in the 61st minute at MetLife Stadium after rolling his ankle during a challenge, with versatile Tottenham full-back Spence - who started at left-back against Ghana - sent on in his place. Quansah may also now be sidelined in the last 32.

England had already been hit by a tournament-ending calf injury suffered by Newcastle right-back Tino Livramento before their first game against Croatia, with Tuchel choosing to call up Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah - primarily a centre-back - in his place.

Chalobah, along with fellow England central defender Ezri Konsa, can be deployed at right-back if needed, but many fans questioned why Livramento was not replaced with another right-back such as Real Madrid star Trent Alexander-Arnold, one of the biggest omissions from the original 26-man squad.

Latest injury concern: Jarell Quansah limped off with an ankle problem as England beat Panama in New Jersey

Getty

Asked if he was worried about his now dwindling options at right-back ahead of the knockout stages, Tuchel said after the win over Panama: “Naturally, of course, we have another injury in the position.

“We will do everything. It will be a tight race for Reece James [to play against DR Congo], it will now be a very tight race for Jarell Quansah, so I'm worried about these two.

“But in general then it is our job to find solutions, and we will find solutions in four days.”