TUCHEL DEFENDS SCOTT SELECTION AS INJURY SIDELINES HER

Thomas Tuchel has defended England's decision to involve Alex Scott in a recent fixture, saying "there was no risk whatsoever," after the player picked up an injury that is expected to keep her out for up to two months. Bournemouth, her club side, has expressed frustration over the injury and the time she is set to miss. The withdrawal and the circumstances surrounding it were also discussed on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily programme, where presenter Alistair Bruce-Ball was joined by Chris Sutton, Rory Smith and Charlie Adam to review England's performance against Croatia.

The panel on Football Daily also looked ahead to England's fixture against Czechia at Wembley, with the BBC's John Murray contributing to that discussion. The programme's panel debated the broader question of whether playing abroad benefits players' development, a topic that arose alongside the discussion of Scott's injury. Separately, the same episode featured Robbie Savage discussing his move to become manager of League One side Peterborough. Tuchel's comments on the Scott situation came as he sought to address criticism of England's handling of the player ahead of her injury being confirmed.

Bournemouth's frustration reflects the impact the injury is expected to have on the club, given the length of time Scott is likely to be sidelined. Tuchel's remarks represent his response to questions over whether playing for England carried any risk to the player's fitness. No further details on the specific nature of the injury or a confirmed return date were included in the available reports. England's upcoming match against Czechia at Wembley is set to proceed as part of the team's current fixture schedule.