Alex Scott has been forced to withdraw from England's squad after sustaining a tendon injury during the 7-0 victory over Croatia. Despite Thomas Tuchel's insistence that there were no warning signs before the midfielder took the field on Saturday, the injury was only identified after the match. Sky Sports News reports that Scott will travel back to Bournemouth for a thorough medical assessment to determine the full extent of the damage.

Early indications suggest he could be sidelined for several weeks, although additional scans are scheduled to confirm the prognosis. In a press briefing before England's game against the Czech Republic, Tuchel elaborated on the circumstances surrounding the injury. He emphasized that there was no indication prior to the Croatia match that Scott was at risk. "With Alex it's a strange one.

I'm very sad about it," Tuchel said. "He trained in both sessions before the match and even did extra work after the sessions.

We knew he was in treatment but we only got green lights from him and the medics. When we noticed slight discomfort during the match we asked if he wanted to come off. He said no." Tuchel continued, describing how Scott felt after the game. "Afterwards he said it was the right decision but he could've played the full 90.

He didn't feel an injury, even on the plane here to London before we did the scan. It's a strange case because the scan's objectivity and the predicted recovery time don't match. There was no awareness of any risk from our side," the England manager explained. He added that he felt a personal responsibility for the situation, noting the constant communication he has with his players: "I feel sad for him.

We have an exchange all the time and when he went out, even the day after, he didn't feel injured, so in my mind, he started tomorrow." Reports in the media suggest that Bournemouth are displeased that one of their key players returned from international duty carrying an injury, and some voices argue that Scott should not have been allowed to play in Rijeka. Tuchel responded to these concerns, stating, "The medical and physical department is in constant contact with all the players who are with us.

We are sharing information and this is a totally open process. I can totally understand that Bournemouth are not happy and sad because they lose a key player, but from the moment we decided to let him play there was absolutely no risk whatsoever apparent to me or our physical staff. I have not taken any risks, even if it was a big opportunity for him and we wanted him to start. If I had the slightest idea there was a risk, I would not have taken it.

I would never do this... It's a one-off." Adding a personal note, it was revealed that Scott's grandfather passed away while he was on international duty. Despite the loss, Scott chose to stay and play in honour of his late grandfather, who had been one of his biggest supporters throughout his career. The midfielder's emotional dedication resonated with fans and teammates alike.

Scott's debut start for England in Rijeka earned him praise from Tuchel, who highlighted his effective partnership with Elliot Anderson—a player with whom Scott won the U21 European Championship in 2025. However, the midfielder requested to be substituted in the second half after feeling pain, a decision that underscored his professionalism and concern for his long‑term health. Transfer speculation has also surrounded Scott during this period. Sky Sports reported that Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea have all shown interest in signing the midfielder this summer.

Nevertheless, Bournemouth have remained firm, stating the player is not for sale and that there is no pressure to sell, especially with two years left on his contract. In fact, Scott has reportedly turned down a new deal at the club, despite the interest from several Premier League giants. Bournemouth's upcoming fixture sees them travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in their first match after the international break.

The club will have to cope without Scott's services, at least until his injury is fully assessed and cleared. In related news, defender Ezri Konsa has also returned to his club, Arsenal, after being ruled out of England's final game of the international break against the Czech Republic. Konsa had been dealing with a minor muscle issue that kept him from training earlier in the week. He managed to play the full 90 minutes in the 7-0 win over Croatia, but further assessment has shown that he suffered a light trauma to his quad, prompting the decision to keep him out of the remaining camp activities.

Tuchel commented, "Ezri came into camp with discomfort. Played against Spain which made it worse. He stayed in camp and tried everything for the match in Croatia and gave the green light.

Unfortunately, he got another hit on the quad and it caused some light trauma. We decided not to let him play again through the pain. Nothing major but not worth taking the risk." Arsenal are set to return to Premier League action on Saturday, hosting Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium with a kickoff at 12:30 pm.

Both clubs will be looking to build momentum after the international break, while England's coaching staff continue to monitor the fitness of their squad members. Overall, Alex Scott's injury serves as a reminder of the fine line between ambition and player welfare in international football.

While his determination to honour his grandfather and contribute to England's dominant performance was commendable, the subsequent medical findings highlight the importance of thorough assessments before and after matches. The coming weeks will reveal whether Scott can recover swiftly enough to rejoin Bournemouth's campaign, and how his situation may influence future decisions regarding player involvement in high‑intensity international fixtures.