Reece James switches focus to Argentina after overcoming World Cup injury
By Jonathan Veal, Press Association, Kansas City
Reece James is happy to have beaten the clock and recovered from his injury just as England enter the business stage of the World Cup.
The Chelsea captain returned as a second-half substitute in the 2-1 quarter-final win over Norway, having missed three games with a hamstring problem picked up in the second group fixture against Ghana.
James came on as a central midfielder before switching to his usual right-back position as two Jude Bellingham goals sent England through to a semi-final date with holders Argentina on Wednesday.
“It’s good to be back out there with the boys,” he told Lions Den.
“Picking up an injury at a tournament is always a race against the clock.
“I applied myself and happy to be back out there.”
Despite not being at their best throughout the tournament, Thomas Tuchel’s side have found a way to get past each hurdle, but one of the biggest awaits in the next round.
England versus Argentina is a fixture rich in history, but James thinks they will be able to cope with the occasion.
“It comes with experience. The higher stakes the game is, the more pressure,” he added.
“We’ve been doing it for years, the fundamentals are the same, but the prize is slightly different.
“We’re in a bubble, trying to complete our mission. It’s hard to see the outside. We’re happy we’re making everyone at home proud.
“This is what dreams are made of. Everyone as a little boy dreamt of playing and winning a World Cup.
“We’re against one of the best nations in the semi-final.”
England are in a golden run of tournament performances, having reached two World Cup semi-finals in the last three events while also reaching back-to-back European Championship finals.
James believes it is because of the quality of the Premier League.
“I think it starts with the Premier League,” he added. “The best league in the world for me and I’m sure many fans. It’s the highest level. A lot of the good quality players are English.
“It shows how much English football has come on in recent years. We’re (knocking at) the door, in and around it, at the latter stages of tournaments when it is crunch time.”
