Strike three…a new nightmare haunts Tuchel with England

Trouble for the German coach

England’s injury crisis at right-back worsened after Jarrell Quansah sprained his ankle late in the Three Lions’ 2-0 win over Panama, adding to a list of absentees that includes Tino Livramento and Rhys James just four days before they face Democratic Republic of Congo.

Germany coach Thomas Tuchel told a press conference after the match at the MetLife Stadium that the Bayer Leverkusen defender “suffered a classic calf strain and is in severe pain,” adding:

Quansah, 23, came on in the 63rd minute after a positive performance that included two clearances, four recoveries and six aerial wins, replaced by Jide Spence, who also picked up a slight ankle injury following the Ghana game.

This third injury in the same position is a real headache for Tuchel, who lost Livramento to a calf injury ahead of the opener against Croatia, while Rhys James is undergoing an intensive rehabilitation program after picking up a hamstring injury that has kept him out of training for the past two days.

When Tuchel was asked: “Does the position of right back bother you?” he smiled and answered.

Although the German manager confirmed that England are “convinced of Rhys James’ ability to play with us in the tournament”, time is running out for the coaching staff ahead of the clash with the Democratic Republic of Congo in Atlanta (Wednesday), forcing Tuchel to urgently “find solutions” to the crisis that threatens the stability of the defensive line.

Tuchel had drafted in Chelsea centre-back Trevo Chalobah as Livramento’s replacement, justifying it by saying: “This allows Jarrell Quansah to play both sides at fullback,” but the latter’s injury has thrown the equation back into the equation and forced the coach to look for unconventional alternatives, which could include moving midfielders or moving midfielders.

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