Thomas Tuchel updates on England team ahead of Mexico match

Thomas Tuchel provided an update on the England team ahead of their crucial World Cup match against Mexico. The England manager expressed concerns about the fitness of Reece James and Declan Rice ahead of the knockout stage clash.

Thomas Tuchel stated that Reece James might return to the England matchday squad for the game, although he had not participated in team training on Saturday afternoon due to a hamstring injury. Instead, James underwent a personalized recovery program. Tuchel mentioned that the Chelsea captain would undergo a late fitness test before the Sunday match, scheduled for 6pm.

In contrast, Jarrell Quansah returned to full fitness after recovering from an ankle injury sustained a week earlier against Panama. The Bayer Leverkusen defender may start at right back in place of Djed Spence, who had a challenging game against DR Congo. "Jarrell trained and is fully available," Tuchel affirmed, regarding Quansah’s fitness, while noting that James might only make it to the bench pending a medical assessment.

Declan Rice, on the other hand, has been cleared to play on Sunday, despite managing pain in his back and hamstring. Rice played the last game against DR Congo at right back, but he is expected to move back into midfield alongside Elliot Anderson.

Tuchel also addressed the anticipated atmosphere in Mexico City, emphasizing that he did not foresee a hostile environment from local fans. Instead, he expected that the emotional support from the crowd would provide a positive backdrop for the game. "It will be emotional and full of support for the home nation," Tuchel explained.

There have been discussions about the potential noise from Mexican fans outside their hotel, which could affect the team’s rest before the game. However, Tuchel reassured that the team deserves respect and that they have security in place, including around 100 riot police guarding their accommodation. "We have no issues today. I don’t want to talk about problems that don’t exist," he remarked.

England participated in a one-hour training session on Saturday afternoon, during which players acclimatized to the high altitude of Mexico City, located 7,220 feet above sea level. Tuchel acknowledged that players felt the effects initially but adapted as the session progressed. He anticipated that the first minutes of the match would be the most challenging and suggested that overcoming this initial period would place them in a good position for the remainder of the game.

Jordan Henderson, participating in his fourth World Cup, commented on the significance of the match, calling it a huge occasion and noting the challenge posed by Mexico as a strong team. He emphasized the importance of focus amid the excitement surrounding the game.