Jarell Quansah and Reece James missed training as England’s right-back issues pile up before Wednesday’s World Cup last-32 tie with DR Congo, Yankee Scores reports.
Quansah limped off with a twisted ankle in England’s 2-0 win over Panama in their final group game on Saturday, with Djed Spence coming on to replace the Bayer Leverkusen defender.
Rob Dorsett reveals Reece James and Jarell Quansah are out of England’s World Cup last 32 game against DR Congo ❌ pic.twitter.com/9m80lK0PfE
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) June 30, 2026
Chelsea defender James was out with a hamstring injury he picked up in the 0-0 draw with Ghana in England’s second group game.
England boss Thomas Tuchel said previously that James could be in the mix for the DR Congo game, but with him not yet back in training since his injury he looks a doubt to feature.
Injuries at right-back have called into question Tuchel’s squad selection for this tournament with some questioning whether the make-up of the squad is balanced.
Newcastle full-back Tino Livramento also dropped out of the squad with a calf problem on the eve of England’s first game of the tournament and Trevoh Chalobah was called up as his replacement.
But Tuchel hinted that Chalobah was called up as a central defensive option, while Quansah and Spence are the players to cover the full-back areas.
Tuchel could bring Spence back at right-back or choose to play Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa.
Under the German, who took over in January 2025, Konsa has become one of Tuchel’s go-to players and a regular starter.
