Stones and three Arsenal players withdraw from the match, a major blow to the England national team.

Just before their friendly match against Japan, Thomas Tuchel's England national team has been hit by a serious injury crisis.

Among the injured players are John Stones and three Arsenal players. Several national team players, including Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, and Noni Maduk, have confirmed their early departure from the training camp, throwing England's scouting plans for the USA-Mexico World Cup into disarray.

England paid a heavy price for their health in Friday's hard-fought draw against Uruguay. Arsenal winger Marduk limped off the pitch in the first half due to injury and later left Wembley Stadium wearing a brace on his left leg.

Besides Maduk, Rice and Saka also returned to London early for assessments by Arsenal due to minor injuries. With Arsenal at a crucial moment in their Premier League title race, the consecutive injuries to three key players while on international duty will undoubtedly be a major headache for manager Mikel Arteta.

Furthermore, the absence of key defender John Stones is also a cause for concern. The Manchester City center-back, whose appearances for both club and country this season have been limited, was forced to withdraw from the match against Uruguay due to a calf injury.

Stones' injury not only strained England's defense but also cast a heavy shadow over his World Cup prospects. Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Walton also left the team for treatment after suffering a violent collision during the match.

According to statistics, among the eight players who left the team early, as many as five were due to injuries. In addition to the aforementioned injured players, Newcastle goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, AC Milan defender Ficayo Tomori, and Leeds United striker Dominique Calvert-Lewin have also ended their national team trip early.

Tuchel had initially assembled a large squad of 35, hoping to use these two friendly matches for final tactical drills and player selection, ultimately finalizing his 26-man World Cup roster. However, a sudden wave of injuries completely disrupted his plans.

Image source: Internet/Sky Sports official website