Thomas Tuchel’s Last England Squad Before the World Cup: What Can Be Learnt | OneFootball

Thomas Tuchel has confirmed his penultimate England squad ahead of this summer’s World Cup in North America.

It’s the Three Lions’ head coach’s last chance to tamper with his squad selection before the final squad is selected in June.

Tuchel has chosen to pick an enlarged squad of 35 players, in a bold, unconventional move.

What can be learnt from England’s latest squad ahead of the World Cup, and what does it say about Thomas Tuchel’s approach?

How much does the penultimate squad matter?

The last squad before a tournament is usually pretty close to the final selection in England’s case.

Ahead of the 2024 European Championships in Germany, 19 out of the 26 players to make the final cut were part of Gareth Southgate’s squad in the March internationals.

This included 2/3 goalkeepers, 5/8 defenders, 3/5 midfielders, and 9/10 midfielders from March’s selection getting on the plane to Blankenhain.

While fitness issues can be a factor, with the likes of Marc Guehi (who went on to become a starter at Euro 2024) missing out in 2024’s March internationals, this period is the closest any England follower will get to seeing what the final team will shape up to be.

Marc Guehi started all but one game in Euro 2024, which he was suspended from playing in. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

But it appears Tuchel isn’t just going for the tried-and-tested in his March squad, with uncapped James Garner and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who hasn’t played for England in five years, both being recalled to the frame.

AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori has also been called up for the first time since 2023.

Matching form with familiarity is the Germans’ biggest test in getting this squad right – but it’s not the usual 26-man selection…

Tuchel’s march SELECTION

Thomas Tuchel has gone for an enlarged 35-man squad, explaining that he wants to “bring in players that we haven’t seen so far, to open up the competition.”

“From Friday/Saturday, a group of players will come into camps – 10/11 players will come, who get a rest before [the game against Uruguay], then we will then go with a new group of players, a new mix of players in the match against Japan,” England head coach Tuchel explains about his enlarged squad.

Splitting the group up should allow for Thomas Tuchel and his staff to get a better gauge on who is going to perform in the moments in the World Cup.

It’s certainly a bold move to split a squad into camps, but only time will tell if it was a risk worth taking.

world cup squad SHAPES UP

The new players who were not in Thomas Tuchel’s last squad who have been added are:

Goalkeepers: Aaron Ramsdale (Newcastle United), Jason Steele (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Defenders: Lewis Hall (Newcastle United), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan)

Midfielders: James Garner (Everton), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)

Forwards: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur)

The three players who were in Thomas Tuchel’s last England squad who have missed out:

Defenders: Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea), Reece James (Chelsea)

Midfielders: Alex Scott (AFC Bournemouth)

It’s the last chance for Tuchel and his coaching team to decide on their final 26 players: and to whittle it down from a pool of 35 (and potentially others) is a tough feat.