James shines... but late red card takes gloss off fine game

THE first touch is always the most important. It tends to set the tone for what is about to follow, it lets you know about a player’s frame of mind. History is littered with those who found the occasion of their first England start too much for their nerves, as their control let them down or an intended pass went askew. Such struggles put Reece James’s opening moment into context. It also made his final moment so surprising. In the third minute, the young Chelsea man moved forward onto a raking ball and immediately swept the ball across the six-yard box, into the corridor that defenders and goalkeepers hate. If Harry Kane’s anticipation had been better, England would have scored. Kane was so impressed he turned around to the 20-year-old and hoisted up his hand, to acknowledge the quality and apologise. Not bad, really, for a defender who was originally earmarked for Under-21 duty. James was elevated to Gareth Southgate’s squad on October 5 to compensate for the absence of his club-mate Ben Chilwell and provide some quality cover. Nine days later he has two caps in his locker — but also has a place in history as the first man to get a red card on his first start. It might have come as a surprise to see James start, not least as he was taking the position you would have assumed was the property of Liverpool’s Trent AlexanderArnold — but perhaps the biggest clue to this selection came against Belgium on Sunday. When Alexander-Arnold was replaced by James, he looked somewhat puzzled. Though Southgate is never anything but positive when he discusses the PFA Young Player of the Year, the way he uses him suggests otherwise. AlexanderArnold has not played a full 90 minutes for England since the 7-0 thrashing of Montenegro last November and he was consigned to the role of frustrated spectator for this Nations League fixture that always looked problematic. Yet while many in England blue struggled, James was a notable exception. He rarely shows any kind of emotion when he is in the thick of a scrap, he simply puts his head down and gets on with it. But as the minutes ticked by, the more his involvement grew. James was always a willing outlet, possibly a little more comfortable at wing-back than AlexanderArnold was against Belgium, and the understanding he had with Mason Mount, his Chelsea team-mate, was obvious. His deliveries, in particular, were of the highest standard. James went about his work impressively and had the confidence to say in the 78th minute he was going to take a free-kick that forced a fingertip save from Kasper Schmeichel. He went about his work in a calm and controlled manner — but then, inexplicably, there was a sour footnote when he was shown a red card for dissent after the final whistle (below) to ruin what should have been an outstanding night. James will learn a tough lesson. But we shouldn’t forget what a player he is in the making. As difficult though it might be, he will learn. And he will be better for it.