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'We aren’t going to win the World Cup without having Reece James in the team': Paul Merson believes Gareth Southgate should have taken the injured Chelsea defender for the latter stages

Paul Merson said England cannot win the World Cup without Reece James, and slammed his omission from the 26-man squad.

The Chelsea defender is out with a knee injury, and while he endeavoured to be back in time for the tournament, Gareth Southgate went with other options.

Merson said that he felt this England side would not win the trophy without the 22-year-old, and that national captain Harry Kane would have selected in similar circumstances for the latter stages alone.

Reece James should have been selected for England's 26-man squad, Paul Merson claimed
Merson believes the Three Lions cannot win without James in the squad to boost the defence

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Jadon Sancho first fell out of favour with England boss Gareth Southgate after 'turning up late for a team meeting last year' - but the Man United winger's omission from his World Cup squad was 'based purely on performances' 11.