England have been dealt a major blow ahead of the World Cup with Tino Livramento set to miss the tournament through injury. The Newcastle defender's absence has forced manager Thomas Tuchel to consider his options under strict FIFA regulations.
Replacement Window and Deadlines
England are allowed to make a change to their 26-man tournament squad for injury or serious illness prior to the tournament's official start. This gives Tuchel a crucial window of opportunity to reshape his plans. The absolute final deadline to officially name a replacement player is up to 24 hours before England's opening group match against Croatia, which would be 9pm BST. Should an outfield player suffer an injury beyond this precise point, no replacement can be called upon, leaving the Three Lions with no option but to contest the tournament with just 25 players.
Eligibility Requirements
Any player brought into the squad to replace Livramento must have featured on the provisional 55-man list previously submitted to FIFA. Players such as Ethan Nwaneri and Rio Ngumoha, who were absent from that original 55-man list, are therefore ineligible for inclusion in the tournament squad despite travelling with the Three Lions on tour. Bournemouth star Alex Scott is amongst the few young touring stand-ins who did feature in the preliminary 55-man squad, making him eligible for a late call-up. Furthermore, reports indicate that Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah could be drafted into the squad to fill the defensive void left by Livramento.
Medical Certification
To guard against any potential manipulation of the squad list, the injury must be formally certified by FIFA's Medical Committee, which is required to thoroughly review the medical evidence and confirm that the injury or illness is sufficiently serious to prevent the player from taking part in the tournament.
In-Season Replacement Rules
Once England get their campaign under way against Croatia in their opening fixture, the squad for outfield players is entirely locked for the rest of the competition. No outfield players can be added or replaced for any reason, regardless of the number of injuries sustained throughout the group stages or knockout rounds.
Special Provisions for Goalkeepers
FIFA regulations stipulate that a wholly separate set of emergency provisions applies exclusively to the squad's goalkeepers. Unlike their outfield teammates, an injured goalkeeper can in fact be replaced at any point during the tournament should a medical emergency occur.
