James: The secret to our brilliance is the strength of the English league

Reece James expressed his immense joy at recovering from injury as the England national team entered the decisive stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Chelsea captain returned as a second-half substitute in England’s thrilling 2-1 victory over Norway in the round of 16, after missing three matches due to a thigh problem sustained in the group stage opener against Ghana.

James initially played as a midfielder before returning to his usual position as right-back in a match where Jude Bellingham scored two goals, guiding England to a tough semi-final clash against defending champions Argentina tomorrow, Wednesday.

James said: “It’s great to be back here with the lads again... Getting injured at a major tournament is always a race against time. I did my best, and I’m happy to be back on the pitch.”

He added: “It comes with experience; the more important the match, the greater the pressure... We’ve been doing this for years, and the fundamentals remain the same, but the prize this time is slightly different.”

He emphasized: “We live in a bubble and try to focus on completing our mission. It’s hard to see what’s happening outside, but we’re happy to make everyone back home feel proud. That’s what dreams are made of.”

Concluding his remarks, James said: “I think it starts with the English Premier League; it’s the secret behind our shine. It’s the best league in the world, in my view and that of many fans, representing the highest level, with many high-quality players being English... This shows how much English football has developed in recent years. We’re knocking on the door and are always present in the advanced stages of tournaments when it matters most.”