Reece James steps up for England as Tuchel's praise bodes well for Chelsea | OneFootball

Chelsea captain Reece James had a memorable game as England secured a 3-0 victory over Latvia at Wembley on Monday. The win made it two out of two for the Three Lions in their 2026 World Cup qualifiers and marked their first two matches under Thomas Tuchel.

The match was James' first start for England in over two years. He was deployed in a familiar right-back role but operated in a more central position than usual, rather than staying close to the touchline as a traditional full-back. This setup resembled his role at Chelsea, though, at Wembley, he had more freedom to move wide when necessary.

That freedom was evident as James delivered several brilliant crosses from the right. However, the highlight of the match came in the 38th minute when England won a free-kick 25 yards from goal after Myles Lewis-Skelly was fouled. James stepped up and produced a stunning curling effort, beating the wall and finding the back of the net for his first-ever England goal.

After years of injury struggles, the goal was extra special for the 25-year-old, and his teammates’ jubilant celebrations reflected its significance.

Speaking to ITV Football after the match, James said: "It's been a long time. I've had a frustrating two and a half years, so I'm happy to get called up for my country again, and I'm happy to play."

On his goal, he added: "I saw the wall and felt I could bend it around. Thankfully, I managed to hit the back of the net. I was a bit surprised it actually went in. I thought the keeper could have maybe got there, but looking at the replay, it was probably tough."

James' performance was no surprise to Tuchel, who knows him well from their time together at Chelsea. The German manager’s delight was evident when the ball hit the net. After the match, Tuchel said: "I know the foot and the quality that the boy has is amazing. He has every right to be proud, happy, and satisfied with his performance. He's in excellent shape."

He continued: "When we called him up, we knew he hadn’t played many games, but we also knew it wasn’t because of injury. Chelsea managed him well. He looks sharp and in shape, and as for his quality - there can’t be any doubt."

Beyond his goal, James was outstanding throughout the match. He also initiated the move leading to England's second goal by picking out Marcus Rashford with a well-placed over-the-top pass. The right-back had the most touches of any player and completed the most passes with an impressive 99% accuracy. He also made 18 final-third passes and was a defensive force, registering eight recoveries and topping the interception stats.

The performance will give James a confidence boost heading into the final stretch of the club season. Chelsea are pushing for a UEFA Champions League spot in the Premier League and remain in contention for silverware, as they are favorites to win the UEFA Conference League, where they have reached the quarterfinals.