Tino Livramento's World Cup Dream at Risk

Tino Livramento’s World Cup dream is hanging by a thread.

The Newcastle United full-back has suffered a muscular injury in training, leaving England and head coach Thomas Tuchel facing an unwelcome problem on the eve of their opening game against Croatia on Wednesday night (21:00 BST).

The 23-year-old picked up the issue during Sunday’s session and is now being assessed by England’s medical staff. The concern is serious enough that his place in the squad is at risk, with Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah on standby as a potential replacement.

A cruel twist for a latecomer

Livramento’s route to this World Cup was already precarious. He missed the final five weeks of the club season with a thigh injury, and his fitness had been a talking point ever since Tuchel named his squad. This latest setback could end his tournament before it begins.

The right-back only made his international debut under Gareth Southgate in November 2024, but he had begun to carve out a role under Tuchel. He has featured five times during Tuchel’s reign, starting twice, and was trusted to come on at half-time in England’s 1-0 warm-up win over New Zealand. He stayed on the bench in the subsequent friendly against Costa Rica, a decision that now feels like a missed opportunity for valuable minutes before disaster struck.

Under tournament regulations, outfield players can be replaced in a World Cup squad up to 24 hours before a team’s first match kicks off. If England’s medical team confirm the worst, the door opens for Chalobah.

Chalobah waiting in the wings

Chalobah, also 26 and primarily a centre-back, has not played for England since June 2025, when he completed the full 90 minutes in a friendly against Senegal. He has, however, remained close to the picture, regularly named on the bench during World Cup qualifiers under Tuchel.

His versatility across the back line mirrors that of Ezri Konsa, another centre-back by trade who is already in the squad and has become a trusted figure under Tuchel with 11 caps, including nine starts. If Livramento is ruled out, Tuchel must decide whether to lean further into that flexibility or to prioritise a more natural full-back profile.

Right-back roulette

This is not just about one player. It strikes at the heart of England’s right-back plans.

Reece James remains Tuchel’s first-choice option, but his body has not always matched his talent. The Chelsea defender endured another injury-hit campaign, missing nine games at the end of the season with a hamstring problem. His status as the mainstay on the right is secure in theory; in practice, his availability is constantly under scrutiny.

Behind him, Tuchel has been piecing together a safety net. Djed Spence, capable of operating on both flanks, offers pace and aggression. He has already featured six times under Tuchel and is firmly part of the manager’s plans. Konsa brings calm and authority, even when shunted out wide from his natural central role.

Livramento was the energetic, attacking option, the player who could stretch games and change the rhythm from deep. Losing him would not just reduce numbers. It would strip England of a different type of threat.

A decision against the clock

England’s World Cup campaign starts against Croatia, a fixture heavy with history and tension. The countdown is on, and so is the clock on Livramento’s fitness.

Tuchel and his staff must now weigh risk against reward. Keep faith with a talented but injured full-back and hope for a rapid recovery? Or turn to Chalobah, a defender short on recent international minutes but long on tactical reliability?

The answer will shape England’s defensive landscape before a ball is even kicked.