Three Right-Backs Down, and England's World Cup Run Has No Answer

Alright, Emerald City, we're watching the World Cup action, and while it's not our boys out there, you gotta pay attention to the big storylines. England just dropped some news, and it's a total mixed bag. Let's get the good news out of the way first: Declan Rice, the midfield general for Arsenal, is expected to start England's World Cup last 32 tie against DR Congo on Wednesday! That's a huge relief, because when you're in the knockouts, you need your absolute best on the pitch.

Rice's Return: A Much-Needed Boost

Remember that goalless draw with Ghana last Tuesday? Rice took a heavy blow to the calf then, which meant England manager Thomas Tuchel rested him for the 2-0 win over Panama. Smart move, right? You can't risk your key players in the group stage if you don't have to. Rice wasn't even able to complete the full training schedule before the Panama game, but he did get back for the final team session before they traveled to New Jersey. In his absence, Tuchel rolled with a midfield of Elliot Anderson and Jude Bellingham. But now, Tuchel is optimistic that Rice, who's 27, will be back in the starting XI for the high-stakes knockout match in Atlanta. It's massive to have that engine room back firing when everything is on the line!

The Right-Back Crisis is Real, Folks

But hold up, because while Rice's return is great, England's defense, specifically at right-back, is looking like a full-blown emergency. Tuchel has some serious injury concerns heading into these knockout rounds, and it's

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all piling up on one side of the field. Reece James, the Chelsea full-back, missed the Panama win after he sustained a hamstring injury against Ghana. Tuchel hasn't ruled James out for the DR Congo game, but honestly, it sounds like his return is likely to be later in the tournament. Rough break, especially when you need those veteran guys. And get this, Jarell Quansah, who deputized for James at right-back against Panama, is now also a major doubt for the last-32 tie because of an ankle injury! He's getting assessed by the England medics over the next 48 hours, but Tuchel already admitted it's going to be "very tight" for the Bayer Leverkusen player to prove his fitness in time for Wednesday. Like, seriously? And to make matters worse, Tino Livramento, another right-back option, left the squad with a calf issue *before the tournament even started*. So, that's three right-backs gone or heavily injured! This leaves Tuchel with a huge dilemma. Djed Spence replaced Quansah against Panama, and it looks like he'll be lining up against DR Congo if James and Quansah can't get fit. Tuchel does have the option of playing center-back Ezri Konsa at right-back, but man, you just hate to see a position decimated like this, especially when the World Cup knockout stage is here. So, Wednesday. England vs. DR Congo. Rice is back, but that right-back situation is a ticking time bomb. Every game from here on out is win or go home. You gotta wonder how this defensive mess is going to impact their path forward. We'll be watching, hoping Tuchel can find some magic, because the World Cup waits for no one!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.