Reece James is pushing to start again for England in their World Cup semi-final against Argentina. The Chelsea captain made his long-awaited return from a hamstring strain as a substitute in England's quarter-final victory over Norway in Miami. Now, he is relishing the chance to play a full part in the tournament.
James on the Semi-Final Clash
Speaking ahead of the blockbuster semi-final showdown with Argentina in Atlanta, James said: "It's hard to [take it all in]. 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." He added: "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's Historical Record
England have a commendable record against Argentina, losing just three of their 14 previous meetings. James wants to focus on the game rather than the occasion: "The higher stakes the game is usually the more pressure. We've been doing it for 20 years, the fundamentals are the same but the prize is slightly different."
Injury and Recovery
James missed three successive victories over Panama, DR Congo, and Mexico due to hamstring discomfort after the Ghana match. He said: "It's good to be back out there with the boys. Picking up an injury at a tournament is always a race against the clock. I applied myself and am happy to be back out there."
Premier League Quality
James believes the quality of the Premier League has helped England succeed: "It's 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 and how far English football has come in recent years."
Looking Ahead
England have reached the semi-finals in nine of the past 10 international tournaments, men and women combined. James is focused on the mission: "We're [knocking at] the door, in and around it, at the latter stages of tournaments when it is crunch time."
