England's Defensive Injuries Raise Concerns. Coach Thomas Tuchel Faces a Tough Task

England defeated an already eliminated Panama 2-0 at MetLife Stadium, with goals from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane. On Wednesday, they face DR Congo in Atlanta in a crucial match for a spot in the round of 16. James is struggling with a hamstring injury sustained in the match against Ghana and did not travel with the team to New Jersey. Quansah twisted his ankle in the second half against Panama, and his participation is also in doubt.

"It was a classic ankle sprain, and he's in pain. He said it's happened to him before and it was a matter of days. But now it's too painful; his leg is elevated, compressed, and iced," Tuchel stated, according to DPA. The England coach admitted the situation is concerning: "Naturally, we have another injury in that position. With Reece James, it will be a tight race against time, and now with Jarell Quansah too. However, our job is to find solutions, and we will find them in four days."

England kicked off the tournament with a 4-2 victory over Croatia, then surprisingly drew 0-0 with Ghana. Against Panama, they struggled for a long time against a deep defense, but eventually, their patience and quality prevailed. "It was a tough and physical match. We knew the opponent was playing as an underdog, and it would be difficult to control their counter-attacks. It's not a problem when such matches are close and difficult. It will help us in the next encounter," Tuchel added.