Reece James has expressed his relief and satisfaction at recovering from injury just in time for England’s crucial World Cup semi-final clash against holders Argentina.
The Chelsea captain made a timely return to action by featuring as a second-half substitute in the Three Lions’ 2-1 quarter-final victory over Norway after extra time on Saturday.
James had been sidelined for three matches due to a hamstring problem sustained during the second group stage fixture against Ghana. His re-entry into the squad saw him initially deployed in central midfield before shifting to his more familiar right-back position, as two goals from Jude Bellingham secured England’s progression.
Speaking to Lions Den, James reflected on his comeback: “It’s good to be back out there with the boys. Picking up an injury at a tournament is always a race against the clock. I applied myself and happy to be back out there.”
Despite not consistently delivering their peak performance throughout the tournament, the England squad has consistently found a way to overcome each challenge, though a formidable test now awaits them.
The historic rivalry between England and Argentina adds another layer of intensity to the semi-final, but James believes the team is equipped to handle the pressure.
“It comes with experience. The higher stakes the game is, the more pressure,” he explained. “We’ve been doing it for years, the fundamentals are the same, but the prize is slightly different.
“We’re in a bubble, trying to complete our mission. It’s hard to see the outside. We’re happy we’re making everyone at home proud. This is what dreams are made of. Everyone as a little boy dreamt of playing and winning a World Cup. We’re against one of the best nations in the semi-final.”
England are currently enjoying a golden era of tournament football, having reached two World Cup semi-finals in their last three attempts, alongside consecutive European Championship finals. James attributes this success to the strength of the domestic game.
“I think it starts with the Premier League,” he added. “The best league in the world for me and I’m sure many fans. It’s the highest level. A lot of the good quality players are English. It shows how much English football has come on in recent years.
‘We’re (knocking at) the door, in and around it, at the latter stages of tournaments when it is crunch time.”
