Chelsea right-back Reece James made a triumphant return to England’s starting lineup, scoring a breathtaking free-kick in a commanding 3-0 victory over Latvia.
The 25-year-old, making his first start for the Three Lions since 2022, delivered a performance that reminded everyone why he James is considered one of the ‘best’.
James, who has been linked with Real Madrid, gave his country the lead in the 38th minute with a stunning curling free-kick from 25-yards out. The perfectly executed strike went over the wall and into the top right corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance to save it.
Harry Kane doubled England’s advantage in the 68th minute, netting his 71st goal for his country before Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze sealed the victory with his first international goal in the 76th minute.
Reece James explains why he did not celebrate his goal for England
Despite scoring a spectacular goal, the defender’s celebration was noticeably subdued. He just stood there looking unbothered as his ecstatic teammates surrounded him to celebrate the goal, leaving fans to speculate the reason behind his lack of celebration.
James put fans at ease as he explained the real reason behind his muted celebration. When asked about his celebration in a post-match, the right-back said:
“I didn’t celebrate because by the time it hit the net and I realised it hit the net, everyone had already surrounded me so I didn’t really have time to celebrate.”
Reece James speaks on recent injury recovery
James’ return to the England squad is a testament to his resilience after enduring a challenging few years plagued by injuries.
The Chelsea defender has missed significant game time, including the majority of last season, and has already been sidelined for 22 matches this campaign.
However, his performance against Latvia suggested he is finally regaining full fitness and form – something which was showcased by his impressive stats on the night.
Reflecting on his recent injury problems, James admitted after the game that this is the best he has felt in a long-time.
“This is the best I’ve felt in a long time.
“It means a lot more to me (playing for England). The last two-and-a-half or three years have been a struggle.
“I’ve had lots of injuries and it’s been tough but towards the back end of this season I’ve been playing consecutively and I’m happy to be back playing for my club and for my country on a regular basis.”
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