James returned to action on Saturday night when he played 49 minutes of England's 2-1 extra-time win over Norway.

That victory set up a semi-final clash with reigning world champions Argentina, whose side includes Chelsea team-mate Enzo Fernandez.

This is Reece's first senior World Cup, after he missed the Qatar tournament in 2022 due to injury, and speaking to England's daily show Lions' Den, our skipper said: 'This is what dreams are made of.

'Everyone from being a little boy dreamt of playing in a World Cup and winning the World Cup so this is part of the process; playing in a semi-final against one of the best nations.'

The excitement around England potentially claiming a first World Cup in 60 years is building among Three Lions fans but James is not getting carried away.

Our skipper is well versed when it comes to winning major finals, having led us to the Club World Cup and Conference League during the 2024/25 season, and was part of the Blues side that lifted the Champions League, Club World Cup and Super Cup in 2021.

When asked how he avoids getting caught up in the occasion, instead focusing just on the football, Reece replied: 'It is a difficult question but it comes from experience. The higher the stakes of the game, usually the more pressure.

'But this is what we have been doing for 20 to 25 years, playing football. The fundamentals are the same, it is just the prize is slightly different.'

James started and played the full 90 minutes in England's first two matches of this World Cup, the 4-2 victory over Croatia and the goalless draw with Ghana.

But injury ruled the 26-year-old out of the next match with Panama and he was deemed not fit enough to feature during the Three Lions' wins over DR Congo and Mexico, despite occupying a place on the bench.

However, James was brought on in place of Anthony Gordon in the 71st minute of Saturday's quarter-final with Norway, initially playing as a central midfielder before moving to right back.

He said: 'It was good to be back out there with the boys. Picking up an injury in tournament is always a race against the clock.

'The medical team did everything they could, I applied myself and I was happy to be back out there.'