Marc Guehi reportedly required an injection in his injured shoulder before returning to play in the second half of England’s dramatic last-16 match against Slovakia. Despite the injury sustained early in a collision with Slovak forward David Strelec, the Crystal Palace centre-back remained one of England’s standout performers.
Guehi was down for a considerable time and appeared to be in significant pain while receiving treatment. To make matters worse, the incident led to his second yellow card of the tournament, ruling him out of England’s quarter-final against Switzerland on Saturday.
His absence is a significant setback for Gareth Southgate’s team. The 23-year-old has been a highlight in England’s otherwise unconvincing campaign, contributing not just defensively but also offensively by setting up Jude Bellingham’s spectacular injury-time equalizer in Gelsenkirchen.
Guehi’s determination to continue playing despite his shoulder injury will likely earn him further praise, but it also raises concerns for Southgate about his availability should England advance past Switzerland. According to the Daily Mail, Guehi faces a race against time to be fit for a potential semi-final on July 10, with the final scheduled four days later.
There is hope Guehi will recover in time if England reaches the final four. Meanwhile, Joe Gomez, Ezri Konsa, and Lewis Dunk are in contention to replace him alongside John Stones in England’s defense.
Before the match against Slovakia, Guehi strongly defended his manager in the press, emphasizing the squad’s unity. “He has been fantastic for England. If you look at his record, it speaks for itself,” Guehi said. “Everyone is behind the manager and we have a really close, tight-knit group focused on the next game. Everyone appreciates him, especially me. He gave me my debut for England and has shown so much confidence in me.”
