Thomas Tuchel drops England tactics hint amid shock World Cup selections | OneFootball

Key pair could prove crucial with versatility

Thomas Tuchel says Reece James and John Stones could play in midfield for England at the World Cup.

The England head coach named both the Chelsea captain and the Manchester City defender in his 26-man squad for this summer’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Though James is a right-back by trade and Stones a central defender, both have played in midfield for their club sides. Stones has been trialled in midfield in-game by Tuchel, while James fulfilled that role on more than one occasion for Tuchel’s predecessor Sir Gareth Southgate.

Elliot Anderson, Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo and Jordan Henderson have been called up as the nominal central midfielders in England’s squad but Tuchel is open to the idea of using James or Stones in that position, he has revealed.

The German was asked why he had opted to leave out both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Adam Wharton, seen by many as two of the country’s most capable passers.

Versatile: Reece James

PA

“I think Elliot and Declan are capable of doing very special things,” he said. “I think Reece James is capable of producing very special moments from a right-back position.

“To the Adam Wharton point, we spent a lot of time talking about No8s and No6s. And it was almost impossible to decide, because Adam was good in March. He lost a bit of form after that with Crystal Palace, but not decisively.

“We believe that Reece James can also play as a No6, because he does on a high level for Chelsea. I think John Stones can play as a No6 for us.

“Having these options on top of our selections made the choice go against Adam, and the same with Trent. I know his quality, I know his personality, especially in big matches, but the guys who were with us in September, October and November just gave us a little bit of extra hunger, a little bit of youthfulness, a little bit of more excitement, and we chose that.”