Reece James has been named in England’s starting XI for tonight’s World Cup opener against Croatia, giving Chelsea supporters an immediate reason to keep their eyes fixed on Thomas Tuchel’s side.
The Chelsea captain starts at right-back in the 8pm kick-off, with The Guardian’s live match coverage listing James in England’s defence alongside John Stones, Marc Guehi and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Former Chelsea winger Noni Madueke is also in the England XI, while Trevoh Chalobah’s late call-up keeps another Cobham-developed Blue around the squad after a chaotic build-up.
James gets the stage Chelsea needed
For Chelsea, this is more than a routine international start. James has spent too much of the last few years having his rhythm interrupted, so a World Cup opener against a serious Croatia side is a proper marker of where he is physically and mentally.
It also gives supporters a quick answer to one of the biggest pre-match questions after our earlier look at the England selection test facing James. Tuchel has trusted him from the first whistle.
The next part is simple enough. Chelsea need James to come through this run of games sharp, confident and intact. If he does that, tonight could feel like an important little step in a much bigger summer.
