​Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that Reece James will be available for England’s quarter-final clash with Norway after recovering from a hamstring problem. The defending right-back has missed the last three matches due to the injury but resumed team training ahead of the decisive tie on Saturday. The good news extends beyond James, with Marc Guehi also expected to be fit despite concerns following the victory over Mexico. England will still be without Jordan Henderson, who is set to miss the remainder of the tournament with an arm injury, and Jarell Quansah, who is suspended.
“It’s the best news. We had everyone available in training, which we of course like,” said the England manager. “We have the full choice except for our suspended player, so that’s the good news.”
Tuchel regarded their Round of 16 win over Mexico as a significant step forward for his side but stressed that there is still plenty more to come from his players. “I think we took a big step in our last match, but it was only a step,” he said. “We’re still hungry, we still have dreams and we still have a big goal to play for. The next step is to win the quarter-final.”
The manager remained focused on building on the positive momentum from the Mexico victory, emphasising that the team will carry forward the lessons learned and the confidence gained. “We left this match behind. We take the positive things and the belief with us, but everything that matters is ahead of us,” Tuchel added.
As England prepare for the quarter-final, the availability of key defenders is welcome news for Tuchel. Reece James’ return means a stronger options pool at right-back, while Marc Guehi’s fitness alongside the rest of the squad provides depth at centre-back. The absence of Henderson and Quansah will still influence selection decisions, but the overall picture is one of increased strength and competition within the squad.
The quarter-final against Norway looms as a critical test, and Tuchel’s team will be aiming to translate their recent improvement into a deep tournament run. By maintaining the momentum from the Mexico game and leveraging the returns of James and Guehi, England hope to secure another step toward their ultimate goal. The leadership, balance, and tactical flexibility seen in the last outing could prove decisive as the side plot an approach designed to overcome the Norwegian challenge. As the countdown to kick-off continues, the atmosphere around the camp is one of cautious optimism, with players focused on delivering a performance that aligns with the manager’s vision and the team’s collective ambition.