Reece James was one of England’s star men as the Chelsea skipper helped Thomas Tuchel secure a superb 4-2 win over Croatia in their first World Cup game – but does James retain his spot?
Chelsea fans have not watched James play a full 90 minutes since March. But on Wednesday night, James remained on the pitch until the final whistle as Tuchel masterminded a stunning 4-2 win over Croatia.
How would you rate Reece James’ display against Croatia 1️⃣-🔟?
Ridding themselves of the 2018 World Cup semi-final nightmare, England coped with the pressure and played an exciting brand of football that England fans have been craving for under Gareth Southgate.
Three points on the board against the best of their three opponents in the group stage. It gives Tuchel the chance to rotate and rest players against Ghana and Panama, but does James continue to start?
Does James continue to start? Cole and Maguire disagree…
James was excellent, earning praise from the likes of Jorrel Hato and Jude Bellingham. But does he still start games as the tournament gets older? Joe Cole is concerned about James’ long-term fitness.
Speaking on Netflix’s The Rest Is Football, Cole said that Tuchel may go more defensive in the knockouts: “If we played against France in the quarter-finals, I think he’d play all of them [Konsa, Guehi and Stones].
“Maybe Reece might come out, play Konsa at right-back. I love Reece, but I don’t think he can play eight games in a short period of time, eight intense games. Thomas will know that,” Cole continued.
But Manchester United defender Maguire disagreed. Maguire thinks if James is going to come out, the chances are it will be against Ghana and Panama, highlighting James’ importance in this England side.
“I think Reece, in the knockout games, I think he [Tuchel] plays Reece. I think it’s more, he might rest Reece in the next couple of group games, but I think Reece is top,” Maguire said, disagreeing with Cole.
Joe Cole concern is understandable, but Harry Maguire is right
Cole is right when he says that James will struggle to play a full 90 minutes, possibly eight times, without breaking down. The Chelsea skipper is prone to injury and only recently returned from a hamstring issue.
Reece James as a central midfielder or a right-back under Xabi Alonso?👀
The million pound question!
But Maguire is also right, in saying that he cannot take James out of the side when it comes to knockout matches. James proved his importance on Wednesday night, not only at right-back, but in midfield too.
Maguire’s comments make sense in that, now England have won their first game and have three points on the board, there is the option to rotate and rest players and James should get a break in the next two.
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