Tino Livramento's World Cup Doubt Creates Defensive Issues for England
England’s World Cup plans have been jolted again, with Newcastle United full-back Tino Livramento now a major doubt for the tournament after suffering a muscular injury in training.
The 23-year-old picked up the problem during Sunday’s session and is currently being assessed by England’s medical staff. With the World Cup opener against Croatia looming on Wednesday night (21:00 BST), the timing could hardly be worse.
From comeback hope to fresh concern
Livramento was already walking a tightrope to make this World Cup. He missed the final five weeks of the club season with a thigh injury, and his late push for fitness had been one of the quiet subplots of England’s build-up.
He did at least make it back onto the pitch in the warm-up games. Livramento came on at half-time in the 1-0 win over New Zealand, a useful 45 minutes that suggested he might yet play a meaningful role. But he remained on the bench against Costa Rica, a hint that his workload was still being carefully managed.
Now, with this latest setback, his place in the squad is under serious threat.
Under tournament regulations, outfield players who suffer a serious injury or illness can be replaced up to 24 hours before a team’s first match. That clock is now ticking loudly for Gareth Southgate and his staff.
Chalobah on standby as right-back puzzle deepens
If Livramento is ruled out, Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah is in line to benefit. The 26-year-old is on England’s stand-by list and would be the most straightforward replacement.
Chalobah has not played for England since June 2025, when he completed the full 90 minutes in a friendly against Senegal. He has, however, remained on the fringes of the setup, named on the bench for multiple World Cup qualifiers under Thomas Tuchel.
Like Ezri Konsa, Chalobah’s natural position is centre-back. Calling him up would add versatility and depth, but it would not give Tuchel a like-for-like attacking full-back in Livramento’s mould.
That matters because the right side of England’s defence is already a delicate balancing act.
Reece James remains Tuchel’s first choice at right-back, but his fitness is far from guaranteed after another injury-hit season. The Chelsea defender missed nine games at the end of the campaign with a hamstring issue, and every sprint in training will be watched with a degree of anxiety.
Behind James, Tuchel has Djed Spence and Konsa in the squad. Spence, capable of operating on both flanks, has featured six times under Tuchel and offers energy and width. Konsa, predominantly a centre-back, has 11 caps, nine of them starts, and brings reliability but less natural thrust from full-back.
Livramento sat neatly between those profiles: athletic, adventurous, but disciplined enough to handle the demands of tournament football. Losing him would not be catastrophic, but it would narrow Tuchel’s tactical options in a key area of the pitch.
A setback at the wrong time
Livramento’s international rise had been one of the more encouraging stories of the last year. Handed his England debut by Southgate in November 2024, he has already featured five times during Tuchel’s tenure, starting twice. Each appearance hinted at a player ready to grow into a long-term option on the flank.
Now England must wait on scan results and medical reports, with the opener against Croatia drawing ever closer.
If the news is bad, Tuchel will be forced into an early decision: trust the fitness of James and the adaptability of Spence and Konsa, or turn to Chalobah and reshape his defensive mix before a ball has even been kicked in anger.
For a manager who prizes structure and clarity, it is an unwelcome riddle on the eve of a World Cup that will not wait for anyone.
