James Hamstring Threatens England's Knockout Stage
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- Reece James is following an individual programme inside after missing both training sessions since the 0-0 draw with Ghana, and will sit out Saturday's final Group L match against Panama (22:00 BST) with fears he could also miss a last-32 tie if England qualify
- Thomas Tuchel selected only three recognised full-backs — James, Djed Spence and Tino Livramento — the last of whom has already left the tournament injured, leaving central defenders Jarell Quansah and Ezri Konsa, plus converted midfielder Nico O'Reilly, as right-back alternatives
- Declan Rice returned to training Friday after missing Thursday's session with strapping on his left calf following the Ghana game and is expected to be available for Panama, though a booking would rule him out of the last-32 through suspension
- Elliot Anderson — poised for a £116m move from Nottingham Forest to Manchester City — was back in Friday's session after sitting out Thursday, restoring midfield options for Tuchel
- England can clinch top spot in Group L and plot their knockout path with a win over Panama on Saturday
- Panama's Cecilio Waterman and José Luis Rodríguez had to be separated by team-mates after a shoving altercation in training, which coach Thomas Christiansen called "a good sign" that "the team is alive"
Why it matters: Tuchel's thin full-back pool — three natural options, one already ruled out — is now under real strain with James a doubt through the knockout stage, forcing a tactical reshuffle that could see central defenders or a converted midfielder start at right-back in a last-32 match.
