England World Cup squad: Who will Thomas Tuchel put on the plane this summer? | OneFootball

Thomas Tuchel has some tough decisions to make after the final auditions to make his 26-man tournament squad

Thomas Tuchel was left no choice but to divert away from the FA’s corporate messaging after England twice fell flat at Wembley over the past week. The friendlies against Uruguay and Japan were billed as his side’s ‘Send-Off Series’ before this summer’s World Cup, but a dour 1-1 draw with the former and even bleaker 1-0 defeat to the latter left the head coach insistent this was no “send-off” and didn’t need to be either. “It’s March.”

It was when he said it, for a few more hours at least, but soon enough it will be May and time to name his 26-man squad for the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Time is ticking.

Auditions over the past week did not go to plan. Few players pressed their case for selection in those limp affairs, where England, supposedly drunk on creative talent in attack, staggered and struggled. Tuchel became the first-ever England manager to lose to African opposition when Senegal beat them last June. Against Japan, he became the first to lose to an Asian team, as well.

And yet fans suddenly overcome with pessimism should remember things could be far worse: this will be the third consecutive World Cup without Italy. At least England are in the mix.

While the Three Lions were losing to Japan, Spain were drawing 0-0 with 10-man Egypt. These friendlies come at a sticky point in the domestic season with players’ attention elsewhere. Tuchel will hope the group who arrive in Florida for the pre-tournament camp are more focused, ready.

Even if this month’s outings slightly dampen expectations, England remain one of the teams most widely tipped to win the World Cup. Tuchel (right) has used 47 players in his 12 matches in charge and heads, now, towards decision time. He has plenty to ponder as that May 30 squad-list deadline fast approaches.

Passports ready

Harry Kane

England’s captain and all-time record goalscorer is still far and away their best player, even when Jude Bellingham is fit and firing. Has scored an astonishing 48 goals in 40 games for Bayern Munich this season. England cannot win the World Cup without him.

Jordan Pickford

Preparing to head into his fifth consecutive major tournament as the undisputed No1, having turned 32 this month. Has played every minute for Everton in the Premier League since September 2022 and at direct fault for just one goal conceded in 82 England caps.

Jude Bellingham

England’s man for the big occasion, their gamechanger. Also their most naturally competitive — a crucial asset, so long as it doesn’t boil over. The Real Madrid star heads to his fourth major tournament, aged just 22.

Bellingham is sure to go to the World Cup - but will he start?

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Reece James

Very clearly the first-choice right-back in Tuchel’s mind, and those who occupied the role in the past week in James’s absence were a considerable distance off the level of the Chelsea captain, who must focus on getting back fit in the last eight weeks of the season.

Marc Guehi

Led his country out at Wembley against Japan as captain for the first time and is an integral figure at centre-back, where he is top pick in the position in the manager’s mind. Composed, tidy, and increasingly something of a goal threat. A shoo-in.

Ezri Konsa

Hasn’t put a foot wrong for England in 18 caps and appears to be battling it out with John Stones to start alongside Guéhi at centre half. Can deputise at right-back.

John Stones

Didn’t start a single Premier League game for Manchester City in the four months between England’s November camp and this one, yet Tuchel is not worried as he brings a wealth of tournament experience and is England’s most unflappable central defender. Tuchel: “He has credit in the bank.”

O’Reilly has put himself in pole position to be England’s tournament left-back

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Nico O’Reilly

One of the breakout performers of the Premier League campaign and surely in the running for young player of the season. The midfielder-turned-full-back gets forward well and is an aerial threat. Occupies the shirt at left-back right now and is on the plane.

Elliot Anderson

Made his England senior debut only in September but looked the experienced general in a sea of nervous auditioners in the Japan game. Almost certain to start alongside Declan Rice in the base of midfield. Convinced to ditch Scotland and represent England instead by Lee Carsley.

Declan Rice

Heads to the World Cup aged 27 and in the peak of his career. Does a bit of everything in midfield, but does it all with finesse; a leader in this England team now. Will be the halfway house between Anderson behind him and Bellingham beyond.

Morgan Rogers

Out of form in the past couple of months, and that was detectable against Japan where he flopped. Still, while the genuine debate in autumn whether he might start at No10 over Bellingham has now fully subsided, at the very least he’s in the squad.

Bukayo Saka

This was a fine international break for Saka, who didn’t play a minute. Noni Madueke, Jarrod Bowen and Rogers all had a go on the right flank and none came close to dislodging Saka from England’s best XI. Capable of the spectacular, but must take more risks.

Noni Madueke

Tuchel adores Madueke’s directness and it was a shame for the spectacle of both matches that the Arsenal man suffered a knee injury in the first half against Uruguay that forced him off. The understudy to his club team-mate Saka on the right wing as things stand.

Newcastle winger Gordon is favourite to start on the left flank

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Anthony Gordon

Seems to be the manager’s favoured choice on the left, as he provides width and pace and helps out defensively as well. Has come on hugely in the last year or so but still needs to work on adding more open-play goals and assists to his name.

Dean Henderson

Told The Standard in an interview a year ago that he was “ready to go” as England’s new No1 under Tuchel. That’s not how things have come to pass. Despite playing as well as Pickford in that time at club level, the Crystal Palace man is still second-choice.

In the departure lounge

Tino Livramento

Will probably head to the tournament as James’s understudy at right-back. Barely puts a foot wrong defensively for Newcastle and can put a nice cross into the box. As with a lot of full-backs in and around Tuchel’s squad, though, question marks over his physicality.

Dan Burn

Turns 34 in May but was handed his England debut in Tuchel’s first match in charge and remains a favourite of the German’s. Aerially dominant and with years of experience, it could be something of a straight shootout between Burn and Harry Maguire for a place.

Palmer’s place is not certain after injuries have plagued his season

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Jordan Henderson

While good for Brentford this season, the 35-year-old looked miles off the pace against Uruguay. Here for his leadership qualities, experience, and little else. In a squad as competitive as this, plenty will feel it is a waste of a nice padded seat on the plane.

James Trafford

Has come a long way since winning the 2023 U21 Euros without conceding a goal, as shown by his starring role in the Carabao Cup final. Unlucky that Manchester City signed Gianluigi Donnarumma right after promising him the No1 shirt. England’s third-choice keeper.

Lewis Hall

One of the only players who pressed their case for World Cup inclusion in the Japan game, where he came on for O’Reilly and looked far more assured. A traditional wide full-back with no interest in inverting, he may be just what England need.

James Garner

Versatility is an attractive quality at a major tournament and Garner can play central midfield or right-back. His first camp with the seniors went well — for him, at least — and Tuchel will have been suitably impressed at his performances for Everton, where he’s been an ever-present this term.

Cole Palmer

It would be a travesty if England could not find a way of getting the best out of Palmer, but injuries have plagued him this season. Tuchel feels he’s looking closer to his explosive 2024 iteration now after an underwhelming year at Chelsea. Probably makes the squad.

Phil Foden

Something about Foden and England has just never quite clicked and continues to falter. Has scored a measly four international goals in 49 caps for his country and it was the same old story this month. Tuchel seemed genuinely demoralised after Japan when admitting there’s “no guarantee” Foden goes.

Marcus Rashford

Hits the ball as cleanly as anyone in the team, Kane included, but regularly impacting games is Rashford’s big challenge. Has fallen a little flat for Barcelona of late but still an explosive left-winger who strikes fear in defenders. When push comes to shove, surely makes it.

Watkins did not feature in the March friendlies but is still a strong contender

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Ollie Watkins

In the end, the best thing for Watkins’ prospects of travelling as Kane’s deputy was being left at home and watching Dominic Solanke, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Foden all waste their opportunities to impress. Different from Kane but an elite striker. If Tuchel wants another No9: Watkins.

Eberechi Eze

Absent with a calf injury, another player who benefitted from not being a part of England’s dismal showings this month. Has struggled at times for minutes at Arsenal this term but able to play at No10 or on the left. Whether he goes will be a close call.

Adam Wharton

The Crystal Palace man offers a forward-thinking, one-touch passing ability more akin to the continental game. Tuchel will surely only have space for one of Kobbie Mainoo and Wharton. Mainoo was poor against Japan. Wharton may go, as England’s ‘something different’ in midfield.

Left behind

Trent Alexander-Arnold

When Bayer Leverkusen’s Jarell Quansah dropped out of the England squad through injury last week and was replaced by Ben White, suddenly a recall for Real Madrid’s Alexander-Arnold felt all the more unlikely. The nation’s finest passer, bar Kane, but misused, misunderstood, and set to sensationally miss out.

Dominic Solanke

Was given a fair whack of the game time in these two games in which to impress, but won’t have changed Tuchel’s thinking. Called up ahead of in-form Danny Welbeck at Brighton but, like Calvert-Lewin, struggled to make an impact. Would need to end the season in barnstorming form at Spurs to break in.

Harry Maguire

Many supporters will disagree with Tuchel here but, as it stands, Maguire is sixth choice at centre-back in the manager’s mind and will not be going to the World Cup. Tuchel sees even Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah ahead of him. His significant aerial threat from set-pieces would feel a big loss.

Alexander-Arnold is expected to be the most high-profile omission

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Jarrod Bowen

The West Ham captain would likely have felt peeved that he was not handed a start against Japan with Saka and Madueke both absent. Wants a right-wing role and defensively far harder-working than both Arsenal men, but Palmer and Rogers can also play on the right.

Ben White

Booed for walking out of England’s last World Cup camp when making his return last Friday. Scored against Uruguay, then gave away a penalty, and out of position for Japan’s winner. Versatile, yet surely the Arsenal defender (left) has plenty to do if he’s to make the 26.

Djed Spence

Spence has healthy attacking instincts, enjoys getting forward and can play both left-back and right-back. All of those boost his chances. But Tuchel was livid with him for not tracking his runner midway through the Uruguay game and positional discipline is not his strong point. Likely to miss out.