Jarell Quansah's World Cup debut didn't go as he would have planned, with the former Liverpool star's selection raising questions from Gary Neville before he limped off injured
00:11, 28 Jun 2026
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 27: Jarell Quansah #26 of England adjusts his sock during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L match between Panama and England at New York New Jersey Stadium on June 27, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
Jarell Quansah made his World Cup debut for England against Panama(Image: Getty Images)
You have to feel sorry for Jarell Quansah. Handed his World Cup debut against Panama after a fine season with Bayer Leverkusen, it certainly didn’t how he would’ve dreamed it last night.
Thrown into unfamiliar territory as he started right-back, with England’s options already running low amid yet another injury for Reece James, Quansah himself will now be left worrying about his own future at the tournament after limping off after just an hour.
Just to rub salt in the 23-year-old’s wounds, England took the lead within moments of him stepping off the pitch, although even Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane’s goals couldn’t mask what was another uninspiring performance.
That England failed to convince again should certainly not be laid at the feet of Quansah, although the former Liverpool man failed to ease any of the concerns raised by Gary Neville ahead of the game.
“One position I think I’m pretty qualified to speak on is right-back, and if you’d said to me a couple of months ago that Quansah would be playing right-back for England at a tournament, I’d say that something’s gone badly wrong,” Neville said on ITV’s coverage.
“He’s picked Reece James and [Tino] Livramento, two players who are injury-prone. He’s not brought Trent Alexander-Arnold in, who is obviously someone with world class quality, for what reasons we can only imagine.
“And we’ve got Quansah at right-back. I saw Quansah play right-back for Liverpool in a Carabao Cup final a couple of years ago, it wasn’t a particularly beautiful sight, because he’s more of a right center-back.”
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 27: Referee Abdulrahman Al Jassim issues a yellow card to Jarell Quansah #26 of England during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L match between Panama and England at New York New Jersey Stadium on June 27, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Patrick Smith - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Jarell Quansah was forced off after injuring himself in a challenge(Image: Getty Images)
Neville added: “In a squad of 26 players, we shouldn’t really be in a position where we haven’t got specialists playing, irrespective of what happens with the rest.
“I really don’t think we should be. 26 is a huge number. He’s brought in number 23, 24, 25 and 26 who are deemed to be ‘good travelers’, people who can maybe play in different positions. I would much prefer to have Trent Alexander-Arnold out there today.”
If England fans felt frustrated by the selection, spare a thought for any Liverpool supporters tuning in just to see Quansah in action.
The academy graduate’s departure to Leverkusen last summer didn’t sit too comfortably with a lot of fans at the time, though it was at least softened by the news that a buy-back clause had been included.
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Just a year later, and the prospect of Quansah returning to Anfield seems all the more attractive after impressing in Germany, especially now that Ibrahima Konate has moved on. Whether the Reds would move for him now, wait another 12 months for him to become cheaper, or just look for another option remains to be seen, but that England game certainly hasn’t answered any questions.
Granted, you wouldn’t want to make any sort of transfer call based on a performance against a team like Panama, but it would have at least been nice to see him playing in his proper position - especially when you factor in Virgil van Dijk only has 12 months left on his contract.
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So, Liverpool fans will have been left unsatisfied with Tuchel’s decision to play Quansah at right-back, and now England fans will be left worrying that their side has picked up another injury before the knockout stages have even begun. Not quite a World Cup debut to remember, unfortunately, for the former Red.