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Thomas Tuchel’s England squad arrived at the business end of Group L with a medical report that reads more like a physio’s to-do list. Three of the team’s most important players are carrying injuries ahead of the June 27 match against Panama at the New York/New Jersey Stadium, and at least two of them did not train with the group on June 25-26.
Reece James and Declan Rice both missed the session. James is dealing with a hamstring issue. Rice has a calf problem picked up in a previous match.
Who’s out and what’s wrong
James, Chelsea’s first-choice right back, has been a key piece of Tuchel’s defensive setup. A hamstring concern at this stage of a tournament is serious business.
Rice is the Arsenal midfielder who has become the engine of England’s press and their primary ball-carrier out of deep positions. His calf problem surfacing now, with the group stage still to be closed out, puts Tuchel in an uncomfortable spot.
Bukayo Saka adds a third layer of worry. The Arsenal winger is flagged with an Achilles concern that makes him unlikely to start against Panama.
What’s at stake against Panama
This is England’s last Group L match at the 2026 World Cup. The result will determine where England finish in the group and, crucially, who they face in the round of sixteen.
What to watch for investors and supporters
Injury management has been a recurring theme in England’s camp throughout this tournament.
Rice, specifically, is worth watching. He is the kind of midfielder whose influence on a match is sometimes easier to notice in his absence than in his presence. He covers ground, wins second balls, and recycles possession in ways that don’t always show up cleanly in a box score.
Saka’s Achilles situation is the one with the longest tail. The fact that England’s camp has flagged this publicly suggests they are being cautious, which means Saka starts from the bench against Panama.
James’s hamstring is the most binary concern. He either passes a fitness test on June 27 or he doesn’t.
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