Underrated Ezri Konsa pocketed Vinicius Jr and can solve Thomas Tuchel’s right-back problem

Ollie Watkins believes Ezri Konsa can provide the solution to England’s right-back woes.

With Reece James out until the last 16 at the earliest with a hamstring injury and stand-in Jarrell Quansah going off with a twisted ankle during Saturday’s 2-0 win over Panama, manager Thomas Tuchel has a big decision to make on that side of his back four.

And Watkins has backed his Aston Villa teammate Konsa to thrive in that position if needs be.

Speaking to talkSPORT’s Faye Carruthers after making his World Cup debut as a late substitute in New Jersey, the striker referenced Konsa’s impressive shutting down of Vinicius Junior during England’s friendly against Brazil in 2024.

“I think Ezri is just so underrated,” Watkins said. “It’s mad how under the radar he goes and for so many years he has been.

“I think he’s one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League. People don’t look at that straight away.

“I don’t know if it’s profile around Villa and stuff like that. People always look at the top teams. But defensively, he hardly puts a foot wrong. I think one v one, he played there.

“I remember we played against Brazil and Vinicius Junior couldn’t get past there. He’s so solid. He can play right-back and obviously his main position is centre-back. But if he does play there, I’m fully confident he can bring more than a job.

“He can go and really excel there and make it really tough for top-class wingers to get past him.”

Watkins’ praise for Konsa echo the feelings of talkSPORT commentator Jim Proudfoot, who also thinks the 28-year-old is perfectly capable of filling in there.

“So, what does he [Tuchel] do next?” Proudfoot pondered. “[He might] play Ezri Konsa there because Konsa has played three dozen top-division games there, he knows the position better than any of the others of that same kind of profile.”

The only other specialist right-back in the England squad is Djed Spence, but his only start at the tournament so far has come on the left – where Tuchel deployed him to combat the pace of Ghana’s Antoine Semenyo.

Getty

Getty

Tino Livramento had travelled to North America but picked up a hamstring injury in training. Tuchel opted to call up another centre-back, Trevoh Chalobah, in his place.

What World Cup bracket are England in?

Tuchel’s side are in the lower bracket and continue their quest for their first World Cup trophy in 60 years when they take on DR Congo in the Round of 32 on Wednesday, which is live on talkSPORT.

Prior to that game, Tuchel admitted he was concerned about the Three Lions’ right-back situation.

“A classic ankle twist and he is in pain,” Tuchel said of Quansah’s injury. “He said he had it before and it is a matter of days. He has his leg up high and in ice.

“Naturally, of course, [I am worried about the right-back situation] – we have another injury in the position.

“It will be a tight race for Reece James and a tight race for Jarell Quansah, but it is our job to find solutions and we will do.”

Should they beat DR Congo, it is not an easy route for England. Mexico or Ecuador would be the last-16 opponents and then it’s Brazil, Ivory Coast or Norway in the quarter-finals should they progress.