Reece James Faces Antoine Semenyo in England vs Ghana

Reece James is set to face a tough test against Antoine Semenyo in England's World Cup match against Ghana. The Chelsea defender is still building his fitness after a late-season injury.

What's at stake for Reece James?

England head coach Thomas Tuchel expects Ghana to rely on counterattacks, which could play to Semenyo's strengths. Semenyo's ability to carry the ball from wide areas and create shooting opportunities is a key part of Ghana's attack.

How will Reece James defend against Semenyo?

Reece James has strong defensive numbers, but he will need to be careful not to leave space behind him for Ghana to attack. As a playmaking full-back, James is in the top 87.29th percentile for tackling, 95.84 for positioning, and 96.99 for creativity.

What are the key statistics?

According to supercomputer Machine Football's analysis, Semenyo is ranked in the top 1% in world football for finishing and equally highly for his attacking contribution. In the 2022-2023 season, Semenyo scored 21 goals for Manchester City and Bournemouth.

How will the match play out?

If Semenyo receives possession early and can drive at James, the duel becomes much more difficult for the England full-back. Noni Madueke will chip in defensively, but his defensive work rate is not as high as Anthony Gordon on the other flank. The possibility of an unleashed Semenyo driving at England's centre-backs becomes more likely if Thomas Partey starts in midfield. Reece James will need to use his positioning, anticipation, and engagement skills to lock up Semenyo and prevent him from creating scoring opportunities. The match between England and Ghana is expected to be a closely contested one, with both teams looking to top Group L. Reece James' performance will be crucial in determining the outcome of the match.