THOMAS Tuchel could have Reece James back for Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final against Norway to ease England’s right-back problems.
Chelsea captain James played the opening two games of the tournament against Croatia and Ghana before picking up a hamstring injury.
Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Jarrell Quansah started at right-back in the thrilling 3-2 win against hosts Mexico at the Azteca stadium in the last-16 but was sent off and is suspended against Norway.
Tuchel started Djed Spence at right-back in the 2-1 win over DR Congo in the round of 32, and also has the option of playing Ezri Konsa there if James is deemed not ready.
Six players – James, Spence, Konsa, Quansah, John Stones and midfielder Declan Rice – have played in the position so far in the tournament. Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento was injured in the build-up to the World Cup after Tuchel caused surprise by leaving out Trent Alexander-Arnold. Tuchel then called up Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah rather than the Real Madrid defender to replace Livramento.
Meanwhile, Tuchel has slammed the standard of refereeing as England were weighing up an appeal against Quansah’s straight red card for his tackle on Jesus Gallardo.
The tournament has been dogged by controversy. United States forward Folarin Balogun was allowed play in the last-16 against Belgium despite a red card in the previous game against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Then Egypt cried foul this week after they were denied a goal which would have seen them go 2-0 up against reigning champions Argentina following a review by the video assistant referee. Argentina’s stoppage-time winning goal came after Egypt felt Mohamed Salah had been fouled and should have been given a penalty.
England had a penalty for a foul by Harry Kane and the Quansah decision given against them after VAR reviews.
“It’s not good enough,” Tuchel said. “He [the referee] can send any team out in any moment. It’s just not good enough. It’s just erratic, it’s just unreliable in matches. Now we have two fourth officials who just scream at you if you put one foot out of a coaching zone. It’s just not good enough.”
England’s game against Norway kicks off in Miami on Saturday at 10pm (BST).
