Chelsea manager Graham Potter has revealed that Reece James has dealt with the disappointment of missing out on the FIFA World Cup 2022 well.
Reece James was not part of the England national football team squad that participated in the FIFA World Cup 2022. He would have perhaps made it to the squad had he not suffered an injury in October – a month before FIFA World Cup 2022 kicked off.
Gareth Southgate chose to leave Reece James out of the squad, with the England manager deciding not to risk the Chelsea full-back in Qatar. Reece James has since recovered from the injury and regained fitness.
Speaking prior to Chelsea’s first Premier League game after the winter break, Graham Potter revealed that Reece James is in a good place and that he has dealt with the disappointment of not making it to the England squad well.
“He has dealt with it well” – Graham Potter on Reece James’ reaction to FIFA World Cup snub
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“I have to say he is in a good mood, he is in a good place. He has trained with us, is training well, and is a good team-mate. He has dealt with it well,” Graham Potter said.
Graham Potter added: “He is missing the World Cup. What can I say? All I can do is acknowledge that it is upsetting, that whatever he is feeling is normal and help him move forwards.
“It was a challenging period for him. It was a challenging period for all the players. You have to think on some level there is an effect there. They’re only human.”
Meanwhile, England failed to win the FIFA World Cup 2022 title, with the Three Lions knocked out of the tournament in the quarter-finals. Gareth Southgate and co. finished as Group B toppers and progressed to the round-of-16.
England faced Senegal in the round-of-16 and secured a 3-0 win over the African nation. Up against England in the quarter-final was France, who got the better of the Three Lions as they inflicted a 2-1 defeat on them. France knocked England out of the tournament in the process.
In the England vs France FIFA World Cup 2022 quarter-final clash, the latter opened the scoring through Aurelien Tchouameni. Harry Kane restored parity in the second half, converting a penalty.
Olivier Giroud then sent France ahead in the 78th minute of the match. Harry Kane had the opportunity to equalize for England when he stepped up to take a penalty that was awarded after Mason Mount was fouled inside the box. But the England skipper blasted his effort well over the crossbar.
