England will face Panama in their final group stage match at the 2026 World Cup without Reece James, who has been sidelined by a hamstring injury. The announcement was made by England manager Thomas Tuchel ahead of the match. James, widely regarded as one of the world’s top right-backs, has struggled with a history of hamstring problems, spending two months on the sidelines in the latter part of last season due to a similar issue.

Tuchel described James’s current condition as a "minor hamstring injury," adding that the player’s availability for the knockout stages remains uncertain. England’s next opponent could be one of Senegal, Colombia, or Portugal, with players such as Sadio Mane, Ismaila Sarr, Luis Diaz, Rafael Leao, or Joao Felix potentially posing significant challenges on the flanks.

James’s absence means England must reconsider their options at right-back. Tuchel has been criticized for his squad decisions, including leaving former right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold out of the tournament following the injury of Tino Livramento and opting instead to bring in central defender Trevoh Chalobah. This strategy has left the team relying on players who typically occupy central defensive roles to fill the full-back positions.

Among the alternatives are Ezri Konsa and Jarell Quansah, both of whom are naturally centre-backs. Konsa has been Tuchel’s preferred option in the central defensive line, while Quansah, a Bayer Leverkusen player, has limited experience on the right, having started only two games in that position during the last season. Neither appearance was particularly convincing, especially in the absence of Alexander-Arnold.

Another option is Djed Spence, who is a natural full-back but usually plays on the left side. Spence featured in that position during England’s goalless draw against Ghana in the tournament’s second match. He currently serves as Tottenham’s second-choice right-back, a team that finished near the bottom of the Premier League standings in recent seasons. None of these backups, however, match James’s technical quality or his ability to provide incisive crosses, passes, or shots from wide areas.

Despite the challenges, Tuchel expressed confidence that the coaching staff would find a way to adapt. He pointed to the decision to include Chalobah in the squad as a means to allow Quansah to fill in at right-back. Tuchel noted Chalobah’s performances for Liverpool and in a back three formation at Leverkusen as evidence of his versatility. He also highlighted Konsa’s previous success in the right-back role during his time with the team.

“We would love to have Reece as a key player, but he's not available,” Tuchel said, underscoring both the predicament and his belief that England can manage without their first-choice right-back. As the team prepares for crucial fixtures ahead, the effectiveness of this reshuffled defensive setup will be closely watched.