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England have a familiar problem heading into their final group stage match at the 2026 World Cup: Reece James and his hamstring are not on speaking terms again.
The Chelsea right-back picked up a tight hamstring during England’s 0-0 draw with Ghana on June 24, and the concern has only grown since. James missed a training session on June 26, leaving manager Thomas Tuchel to weigh his options ahead of the Panama fixture.
England face Panama on June 28 at New York New Jersey Stadium, with the match serving as their last chance to wrap up the group stage on their terms. Tuchel, by all accounts, is not inclined to gamble with James’s fitness given how quickly a “tight” hamstring can become a serious tear.
A familiar villain for James
James has spent a significant portion of the last several seasons navigating recurring hamstring problems that have repeatedly interrupted his club and international career.
At 26, he should be in the prime of his powers at a World Cup. Instead, his fitness status is again the talking point heading into a crucial match. The fact that medical staff are “closely monitoring” him rather than clearing him outright signals that nobody wants to short-circuit his recovery for a match England are expected to win comfortably.
Rice’s situation looks more manageable
The other fitness concern coming out of the Ghana draw involves Declan Rice, though the tone around his situation is considerably more optimistic.
Rice was seen limping after the match and had left calf strapping visible post-game. He also missed full training in the lead-up to the Panama fixture. However, assessments of his condition are being conducted with a degree of confidence that he could still feature.
The distinction between the two cases matters. Rice is England’s midfield engine. Losing both Rice and James simultaneously would leave Tuchel reshuffling two of his most important positions at the same time.
What this means for England’s group stage finale
Tuchel will be tempted to manage his key players carefully, which could mean James sits out entirely and Rice is either rested or introduced from the bench if he is cleared to play.
James’s injury history means the calculus for Tuchel is fairly clear. A tight hamstring in a player who has repeatedly suffered serious hamstring tears is not something you play through for a group stage game you are expected to win.
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