REECE JAMES

insists he was worth the risk at this World Cup. No, he wasn’t. What message would it have sent to the rest of the team? James was not going to be fit until the knockout stage, meaning another player would have to occupy his position throughout the group games.

If he played well, only to be dropped for the returning James, that could affect the morale of the group — and if there was a vacancy in such an energetic wing-back role, could it really be filled by a player who as good as arrived on crutches? It is a terrible pity that James will not be there but, again, Gareth Southgate’s rationale is correct.