England’s World Cup Squad: Tuchel Faces Crucial Selection Decisions
With the World Cup on the horizon and less than three months until England kicks off their campaign against Croatia in Dallas, coach Thomas Tuchel has assembled a substantial 35-man squad. This large group will be assessed over two upcoming friendlies: one against Uruguay this Friday, followed by a clash with Japan next Tuesday. The initial match at Wembley is expected to feature fringe players, providing an opportunity for them to impress before the senior stars join the camp for the second fixture. Tuchel is meticulously covering all bases as he works towards finalising his 26-man World Cup squad by May.
Despite the extensive preparation, several familiar challenges persist for England, while new questions are emerging, undoubtedly causing sleepless nights for Tuchel as he navigates the most significant summer of his coaching career. Football Editor Ian Ladyman delves into the key dilemmas Tuchel will be hoping to resolve in the coming days.
Can Cole Palmer Seize His Opportunity?
Coach Thomas Tuchel has made his stance clear: he is unwilling to force talented players into the squad if it disrupts the team’s balance. This means the competition for attacking roles, particularly the spot behind talisman Harry Kane, is fierce. Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers are currently leading the charge for this crucial position. While Tuchel has floated the idea of Phil Foden operating as a backup striker – a tactic we might witness in brief spells against Japan – his message to Cole Palmer is unambiguous.
“Honestly, he has to show because we have more evidence without him than with him, so the pressure is on him,” Tuchel stated recently. “He had a difficult season, but he has also had a difficult spell with the national team. He was only once available for us, and we decided to stick with the same squad, so there is big competition for his best position. We saw good data lately from Chelsea, but we have had four training sessions, and he needs to show up. He cannot hold back. He needs to understand he fights for his place, and we will not hand anything to anyone on a silver platter.”
Bellingham is still in recovery from a hamstring tear, meaning his involvement in these matches will likely be limited to a few minutes off the bench in the second game at best. As it stands, the starting position appears to be Morgan Rogers’ to lose. Tuchel believes Rogers possesses the creativity required for the role, coupled with the positional and team discipline that Bellingham sometimes lacks.
The Search for a Premier Central Defensive Partnership
In Thomas Tuchel’s ideal scenario, the central defensive pairing would be John Stones and Marc Guehi. Not only are they considered the two most gifted centre-backs available, but they also both currently play for Manchester City. However, Tuchel is acutely aware that he cannot rely solely on Stones’ fitness and availability. By the time the World Cup commences, Stones will be 32, but the primary concern isn’t his age, but rather his limited playing time. Stones has started only four Premier League games this season, with his last appearance being a 5-4 victory at Fulham in early December.
Consequently, Tuchel needs a contingency plan. It will be intriguing to observe whether he opts for the Guehi-Ezri Konsa partnership when fielding a lineup close to his first-choice selection against Japan next Tuesday. This duo has a strong chance of starting England’s opening World Cup fixture against Croatia in Dallas.
Tuchel holds Dan Burn in high regard and expects him to be part of the World Cup squad. However, Tuchel doesn’t view him as a starter, and for good reason. The recent performance of young Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal, who dominated Burn at the Nou Camp, served as a stark reminder of the Newcastle defender’s limitations. As for Harry Maguire, the Manchester United defender is anticipated to feature in Friday’s game against Uruguay, but he has a considerable amount to prove to secure a spot on the plane in June.
Identifying a World-Class Right-Back
Reece James is unequivocally Tuchel’s top choice for the right-back position. With Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier no longer in the international picture, James stands as the only proven international right-back available to him in the Premier League. However, the Chelsea player has recently suffered his tenth hamstring injury, making the prospect of him playing eight games in just over four weeks this summer seem highly improbable.
Tuchel has ruled out Trent Alexander-Arnold, as the Liverpool player doesn’t fit the profile he desires across his back four. The England coach is convinced that the 2026 World Cup will be a tournament of tight contests, where set pieces and robust defences will be paramount. While Alexander-Arnold brings an undeniable X-factor to any team, Tuchel prioritises full-backs he can trust defensively. This double-header of friendlies presents a significant opportunity for Newcastle’s Tino Livramento to stake his claim. Jarell Quansah has withdrawn due to injury, and Ben White was only a late replacement for the Bayer Leverkusen player. Livramento, now back to full fitness for Newcastle, has a chance to impress.
The Creative Hub: Who Plays Number 10?
It feels like a distant memory, but it was as recent as the autumn of 2024, under Lee Carsley’s management, that discussions revolved around England’s ability to accommodate Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, and Phil Foden in the same team. Carsley even tried it once, resulting in a home defeat to Greece in the Nations League. Now, the conversation has shifted to whether there’s even room for all of them in a single 26-man World Cup squad. Tuchel’s insistence on maintaining team balance means the battle for the number 10 role, operating behind Harry Kane, is intense.
As mentioned, Tuchel has considered Foden as a potential backup striker, a role we might see him fill briefly against Japan. However, in terms of the creative playmaking position ahead of Declan Rice and Elliott Anderson, it’s currently a direct contest between Bellingham and Rogers. Bellingham’s ongoing recovery from a hamstring tear means his contribution will likely be minimal, at best, a few minutes off the bench in the second game. This opens the door for Palmer and Foden to impress against Uruguay on Friday. Whoever seizes these minutes must make a significant impact, as the position is currently Rogers’ to lose. Tuchel believes Rogers can fulfil the creative demands while demonstrating the positional and team discipline that Bellingham may sometimes lack.
Nico O’Reilly: A Versatile Asset
Thomas Tuchel feels fortunate that Elliot Anderson emerged seemingly out of nowhere to address the need for a midfield partner alongside Declan Rice. Anderson’s rapid development was an unexpected boon for the head coach. Now, he expresses similar gratitude for the emergence of Manchester City youngster Nico O’Reilly. O’Reilly, who turned 21 just last Saturday, embodies the ideal player for an international coach: low-maintenance, highly skilled, and versatile enough to perform effectively on the big stage in multiple positions.
O’Reilly has featured 43 times for City this season, demonstrating comfort and capability at both full-back and in midfield. He notably scored two goals from left-back in City’s Carabao Cup final victory against Arsenal on Sunday, but has also played in central midfield and even as a number 10 this term. Within Tuchel’s tactical framework, O’Reilly is primarily seen as a left-back, and he currently ranks ahead of Lewis Hall and Djed Spence for that role in the national team setup.
Planning for Life Without Harry Kane
This is the perennial question that looms over England’s prospects heading into every major tournament, and with good reason. Kane has been the focal point of England’s attacking ambitions in the last four major tournaments, netting an impressive 15 goals. However, he cannot be expected to carry the burden indefinitely. Kane is enjoying another strong season with Bayern Munich, but his performance in Euro 2024, where he appeared fatigued, raised concerns. In the demanding climatic conditions anticipated in America this summer, the physical demands on the 32-year-old will be significant once again.
Tuchel has included Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Dominic Solanke in this squad. However, it would be a surprise if either were to make the final tournament selection. There remains a greater possibility of Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins receiving a call-up, or Tuchel opting for a left-field choice, such as deploying Anthony Gordon or Marcus Rashford in a central striking role. When discussing this issue during his squad announcement, Tuchel deliberately mentioned Gordon’s name in the conversation. It is certain that Kane will not be able to play eight full 90-minute matches this summer, especially with the added possibility of extra-time. Therefore, Tuchel requires alternative strategies. The hope that a player like Solanke can suddenly transform into an international-calibre centre-forward simply by wearing an England shirt is, at best, overly optimistic.
Identifying the “Good Tourists”
Tuchel places immense importance on the team environment, and rightly so. If England are to go all the way this summer, the squad will be together from early June until well into July. This extended period leaves no room for players who cannot fully commit to the collective experience. “I want to be absolutely certain that we have a group that can enjoy weeks and weeks and weeks together,” Tuchel explained. “That we have the energy right, and we have the chemistry right. I spent a lot of time recently looking at the schedule, and the longer we get, the more demanding it will become. It will become very condensed. And there will be a lot of flights. And there will be a lot of time at airports. And there will be a lot of time together. And we have to get our chemistry right. And this is the most important thing.”
With this philosophy in mind, Tuchel will continue to rely on experienced players like Dan Burn and Jordan Henderson, whom he believes excel in fostering the right team spirit. He will also be closely observing other players, such as Bellingham, regarding whom questions about their suitability for such an environment have been raised previously.
My predicted starting XI for the match against Croatia on June 17th:
Pickford; James, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rice, Anderson; Saka, Rogers, Gordon; Kane.
