Reece James admitted that being able to step onto the World Cup stage was like a dream come true for him.

With England set to face Argentina in the World Cup semi-final, defender Reece James spoke about the team's current journey. He stated that reaching the 2026 World Cup semi-finals with the Three Lions is a dream come true in his career. In the previous quarter-final match, Tuchel's England fell behind at one point, but thanks to Bellingham's two goals, they ultimately came back to defeat Norway 2-1 in extra time, securing their place in the semi-finals.  

Reece James, who had missed several matches due to a hamstring injury, returned to action against Norway, led by Stale Solbakken. The England defender made significant contributions to the team both defensively and in midfield coordination after coming on as a substitute.  

Reece James said: "This moment really feels like a dream come true. Every kid who loves football dreams of one day standing on the World Cup stage, and now we are experiencing it firsthand. Being able to face one of the world's top teams in the semi-finals is incredibly exciting for us."  

"In the heat of the game, there isn't much time to savor the victory. You might only get a few seconds to feel it before the pace of the game pulls you back on track. After the final whistle, we quickly shift our focus to the next game because new challenges are coming soon, and we must get ready as quickly as possible."  

"Such matches do require experience to handle, and the more important the event, the greater the pressure on our shoulders will be. But ultimately, we have been playing football for more than 20 years. The essence of football has not changed. The real difference is that we are now fighting for the highest honor, the World Cup."  

During this World Cup, Reece James started in England's first two group stage matches against Croatia and Ghana. However, due to injury, he subsequently missed the matches against Panama, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Mexico.  

Speaking about his return from injury, Reece James said, "I'm really happy to be back on the court and fighting alongside my teammates. Getting injured during the World Cup meant I had to recover as quickly as possible, but thankfully the medical team gave me tremendous help, and I did my best to complete my rehabilitation training. Being able to return to the game yesterday meant a lot to me."  

When asked about his ability to adapt to different positions, Reece James said, "Whether the manager puts me in midfield or full-back, I understand my responsibilities and know how to help the team."  

"Adapting to different positions isn't difficult for me. I just do my best, and wherever the coach puts me, I'll do my best to help the team, which is similar to Jade Spence. I'm in good shape right now, and I'm very fortunate to be here. I hope to make history with this team. As you said, it's a really great start to my World Cup debut in this way."  

“I’m in great physical condition right now and I’m happy to contribute to the team. My goal here is to help the team and influence the course of the game through my performance, and I’ve been working toward that goal all along. I’m very satisfied to have achieved that.”  

Image source: Internet/England National Team official website