Reece James expressed his delight at returning to the England squad after recovering from injury, affirming his readiness to support the 'Three Lions' in the decisive stage of the 2026 World Cup, ahead of the anticipated clash against Argentina in the semi-finals.

The Chelsea captain came on as a substitute in the second half during England's 2-1 victory over Norway in the quarter-finals, having missed three matches due to a thigh injury sustained during the match against Ghana in the group stage.

Joy at returning

James confirmed that returning to the pitch in a tournament as big as the World Cup is a special moment for him, having been in a race against time to recover from the injury.

He said in remarks to the 'Lions' Den' network: 'It's great to be back and with my teammates. Getting injured during a major tournament is always a race against time, and I gave everything I had to return, and I am very happy to be on the pitch again.'

Ready for the Argentina clash

James pointed out that facing Argentina will be a tough test, but he affirmed that England's players have the necessary experience to handle such matches.

He said: 'The more important the match, the greater the pressure, but we have become accustomed to such atmospheres over the years.. The basics don't change, but the value of the prize this time is greater.'

We aim to make the fans happy

The Chelsea defender confirmed that the national team players are fully focused on their mission in the tournament, while being aware of the support they receive from the English fans.

He added: 'We live in a bubble and focus on accomplishing our mission, but we are happy to give the fans back home reasons to be proud. This is the dream that every player has since childhood, and now we are one step away from the final and will face one of the best teams in the world.'

Praise for the English Premier League

James concluded his remarks by praising the English Premier League, considering it one of the main reasons for the development that English football has witnessed in recent years.

He said: 'The English Premier League is the best in the world from my point of view, and it includes a large number of high-quality players. This development has been reflected in the national team, and we have been consistently reaching the advanced stages of tournaments, and we hope to succeed this time in achieving the biggest goal.'