Reece James continues his triumphant return to the international stage. He returned to illustrious form, as he completed a masterpiece of match winning performance in his first start for England since 2017. The 25-year-old Chelsea defender returned to the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) side after scoring a cracker in England’s 3-0 win over Latvia at Wembley. He scored the first goal with a beautiful first-half free-kick! This was an important time for James. He’s dealt with injuries during the past few years, though, leaving him with only 17 international appearances to his name.
James’ return to the England starting line-up was made possible by an injury to fellow defender Trent Alexander-Arnold. While James has played just 14 matches for Chelsea this campaign, he made clear his magnificent quality. His previous coach, Thomas Tuchel, never doubted his ability.
"There cannot be any doubt about Reece's quality, it's the highest level." – Thomas Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel, who coached James during his tenure at Chelsea from 2021 to 2022, expressed confidence in the player's abilities. Tuchel has been key in controlling James’ time on the pitch with Chelsea to avoid additional injuries. His prudent management has kept James mentally and physically sharp for the most important matches.
"We were in close contact in the last weeks." – Thomas Tuchel
In that recent 3–0 win against Latvia, James’ versatility and skill were on full display. On one hand, he had a massive impact defensively, but he was able to create opportunities for his teammates. His performance is a testament to just how good the England squad is. We are rooting for them as they continue to progress through the World Cup qualifiers.
"If you play a dominant match like today he can be, like in the last 20 [minutes], a hybrid midfielder and help to create an overload because he has the quality on the ball." – Thomas Tuchel
James’ return to form is a very good indicator for the club and country, respectively. Just as England plays out their last stages of World Cup qualifying, his inclusion should serve to firmly plug up their backline. As for Chelsea, his contributions are proving priceless as they continue to challenge on four fronts.
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