Five months on from being appointed, we will finally get the first signs of what a Thomas Tuchel-managed England team might look like when he names his initial squad on Friday.
The German, who led Chelsea to win the 2020-21 Champions League, was hired with next year’s World Cup in mind, and his tenure will begin with the first two (of eight) group-stage qualifiers against Albania next Friday, March 21, and Latvia three days later, both at Wembley.
Will Tuchel make sweeping changes from the Gareth Southgate era and under-21s manager Lee Carsley’s spell in interim charge last autumn or decide to stick with most of the players who have served England well in recent tournaments?
We asked our writers to pick their squads — and there were some interesting inclusions and surprising omissions…
Oliver Kay – Maguire in, Grealish and Rashford out
I don’t think this is a time for experimentation. Tuchel and the Football Association (FA) have given themselves a short run-up to the World Cup in 15 months, so he has to hit the ground running.
But if you’re sticking with the tried and trusted, how far do you go with that?
Do you retain Kyle Walker, who has had such a difficult season and will be 36 when the World Cup kicks off? Do you stick with Jack Grealish, who looks so far off the pace for Manchester City? Do you convince yourself Marcus Rashford is ‘back’ on the basis of a couple of cameos on loan at Aston Villa? Do you bring back Harry Maguire? I’m inclined to say no, no, no and a cautious yes.
There is a clutch of really good young players who merit consideration but whose development might be better served starting games in the under-21s — James Trafford, Rico Lewis, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Elliot Anderson, Harvey Elliott, Ethan Nwaneri, Morgan Rogers, Noni Madueke, Jamie Gittens and Liam Delap. People in England — players, managers, fans, media —need to be less sniffy about the under-21s.
Jarrad Branthwaite, Levi Colwill, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Adam Wharton might easily have been in that category too, but those four would be in contention to start for Tuchel’s senior team.
There are others — Tyrone Mings, Angel Gomes, Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Jarrod Bowen — who narrowly miss the cut here, but all are capable, along with Nwaneri, Rogers, Rashford, Delap et al, of establishing themselves under Tuchel.
The other big question concerns Ben White. Carsley said during his spell as interim coach that White still had his ‘do not disturb’ status activated after Southgate’s departure last summer. I’ll be happy to see White back in the squad once he has convinced Tuchel of his commitment and explained his reasons publicly.
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, Dean Henderson. Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Tino Livramento, Marc Guehi, Maguire, Branthwaite, Ezri Konsa, Colwill, Lewis-Skelly. Midfielders: Declan Rice, Conor Gallagher, Curtis Jones, Wharton, Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer. Forwards: Harry Kane, Dominic Solanke, Ollie Watkins, Anthony Gordon.
Jack Pitt-Brooke – Spence deserves a chance
The only player I have selected who has never been in an England squad before is Djed Spence, who has been brilliant for Tottenham Hotspur in recent months, whether playing at right-back or left-back.
England have struggled at the latter position in recent years, and with Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall out injured until next season, Spence could be Tuchel’s best option there already. Aaron Wan-Bissaka was called up by Southgate in 2019, but never made his debut. He has been so good this season that I would love to see him given an opportunity at right-back too. Even though he is a very different stylistic fit from Alexander-Arnold. Tyrick Mitchell also comes back in after a good season with Crystal Palace.
Spence spent last season out on loan but his fortunes at Spurs have been transformed in this one (Michael Regan/Getty Images)
I’ve also brought back Mitchell’s Palace team-mate Wharton, who got a look-in at the end of the Southgate era. Gibbs-White stays in after being one of the highlights of the Carsley mini-era.
No big surprises among my attacking players, with Solanke recovering from a knee injury just in time to supplant Bowen in the squad. Hudson-Odoi has been in sensational form for Nottingham Forest. Maybe I should have found room for him too.
Goalkeepers: Pickford, Henderson, Nick Pope. Defenders: Alexander-Arnold, Maguire, Guehi, Branthwaite, Mitchell, Wan-Bissaka, Spence. Midfielders: Gallagher, Rice, Bellingham, Jones, Wharton, Gibbs-White. Forwards: Kane, Palmer, Gordon, Foden, Watkins, Rogers, Solanke.
Mark Carey – Wharton is perfect for international football
Among the goalkeepers, it is worth rewarding Trafford’s efforts with a place in the squad, given his record-breaking 12 clean sheets in a row for Burnley in the Championship this season.
At left-back, Hall would have got my vote if not for an unfortunate injury, but Mitchell is deserving of another call-up alongside the breakout talent of 18-year-old Lewis-Skelly. On the other side, Spence’s athleticism and one-v-one defensive ability (highlighted in the graphic below) would be great to see at senior international level, while Livramento’s energy could be perfectly suited to a Tuchel style of play.
In midfield, there would be plenty of versatility with Rice, Jones, Anderson and Bellingham all seemingly able to play deeper or advanced roles in Tuchel’s system. While he is still working his way back from injury, Wharton’s passing range is perfect for international level. His 9.4 progressive passes per 90 minutes place him among the top two per cent of midfielders in the Premier League this season.
With the fantastic individual campaigns that Gibbs-White and Rogers are having, they are comfortably deserving of retaining their places in the squad after November call-ups under Carsley.
Normal service in the forward areas, with the addition of Delap. The 22-year-old is the third-highest English scorer in the Premier League this season (10 goals, behind Palmer on 14 and Watkins on 13) and could be the national team’s key striker for the next 10 years if he continues to develop.
Goalkeepers: Pickford, Henderson, Trafford. Defenders: Alexander-Arnold, Spence, Guehi, Maguire, Branthwaite, Colwill, Lewis-Skelly, Mitchell. Midfielders: Rice, Jones, Gibbs-White, Palmer, Wharton, Bellingham, Anderson, Rogers. Forwards: Kane, Delap, Watkins, Gordon.
Seb Stafford-Bloor – why I’d leave Palmer out
Perhaps a good starting point is to make just a few initial changes to the squad, allow the incumbent players and Tuchel to adjust to one another, then move in different directions (if necessary) from the summer onwards. The less disruption, the more productive this first international break under him is likely to be.
So, there’s not much controversial about my squad. I agree that Spence deserves a chance for how well he has played despite Tottenham’s dreadful season, especially as he offers versatility. England have tried to make right-footed full-backs work on the left before, but he can play on both sides to a high standard.
Rogers has a fascinating set of abilities that should be part of England’s future. Lewis-Skelly deserves an opportunity, given how well he has adapted to Premier League football and coped with all the drama that entails, red cards and all.
Palmer hasn’t made it. A wonderful player, but he has no form at all and he might be better served by some time off. But Delap is in. He is still a little wild and coltish, but the traditionalist in me cannot resist a forward who causes that many physical problems.
Gomes pays for not playing regularly enough for Lille and while Gittens’ time will come and his early-season Dortmund form showed just how destructive he can be, his physical condition and form have declined sharply in recent weeks, as has his confidence.
Goalkeepers: Pickford, Ramsdale, Henderson. Defenders: Alexander-Arnold, Spence, Guehi, Maguire, Branthwaite, Colwill, Lewis-Skelly. Midfielders: Rice, Gibbs-White, Jones, Wharton, Bellingham, Eze, Foden, Rogers. Forwards: Kane, Delap, Watkins, Gordon, Solanke.
Carl Anka – Foden does not fit into this England squad
Tuchel has around 24 in-game hours between now and the start of the World Cup and he made it clear the FA hired him to secure some silverware. If we assume Tuchel seeks to tweak and refine the foundations left for him by Southgate, rather than make wholesale changes and experimentation, three things need addressing quickly.
First, England need to fix that left flank. Lewis-Skelly has a fantastic chance to make the left-back position his own. Mitchell is my backup for the role. Then we look at who pairs with Rice at the base of midfield. Euro 2024 was a touch too early for Wharton but the Palace player has been impressive since returning from groin surgery in early February.
Finally, Kane needs runners around him to truly thrive, so I’m pushing for a scheme where Gordon and Eze get down either flank, while Bellingham — and Rogers as a substitute option — can provide potency from the No 10 position. There is no Foden in my 23; he has underwhelmed across his 43 England caps and he is an awkward fit for international football.
Phil Foden has rarely reproduced his best club form at international level (Michael Regan/Getty Images)
I’ve made room for Delap over Solanke in this squad, as I don’t want to put extra miles on the Spurs’ man’s clock just yet.
Goalkeepers: Pickford, Henderson, Ramsdale. Defenders: Alexander-Arnold, Spence, Guehi, Maguire, Branthwaite, Colwill, Lewis-Skelly, Mitchell. Midfielders: Rice, Gallagher, Gibbs-White, Palmer, Wharton, Bellingham, Eze, Rogers. Forwards: Kane, Delap, Watkins, Gordon.
James McNicholas – a White return
Despite the availability of Pope and Trafford, this trio of goalkeepers provides the best fit for Tuchel’s system.
In defence, Maguire should be in if he can prove himself fit — but having missed out against Arsenal at the weekend, I’ve selected a squad without him. The intriguing picks are at full-back: I’d do everything possible to get White back into the fold, as he’s England’s most complete right-back. At left-back, a spate of injuries creates opportunities for two uncapped players from the north London clubs: Lewis-Skelly and Spence.
In midfield, Wharton’s eye-catching form since returning to the Palace side last month after three months out injured warrants inclusion. It was a toss-up between the two Morgans and in the end, Gibbs-White’s contribution to Forest’s Premier League overachievements gave him the edge over Rogers.
The form of Hudson-Odoi deserves recognition. He has been one of the most dangerous wingers in the Premier League this season. I toyed with introducing another Arsenal teenager — 17-year-old Nwaneri — but there’s so much attacking talent at Tuchel’s disposal that there’s no need to rush him.
Goalkeepers: Pickford, Ramsdale, Henderson. Defenders: Alexander-Arnold, White, Guehi, Konsa, Branthwaite, Colwill, Lewis-Skelly, Spence. Midfielders: Rice, Gallagher, Jones, Wharton, Bellingham, Gibbs-White. Forwards: Kane, Watkins, Foden, Palmer, Gordon, Hudson-Odoi.
Jordan Halford – still space for Walker
Kyle Walker left Manchester City for Milan on loan in January (Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Tuchel will be keen to make his mark on the squad after a largely forgetful interim tenure from Carsley and with the FA making it clear its objective is to go one better at the next World Cup after more major tournament final heartbreak at Euro 2024, the German is posed with the conundrum of getting the best out of his ageing senior players while introducing a talented crop of youngsters in just eight qualifiers plus a handful of friendlies.
Tuchel needs to hit the ground running, but has issues to solve at centre-back in the absence of John Stones. Maguire should return to partner Guehi if fit, but Konsa is more than an able deputy and can also play at right-back if required, likewise with Colwill on the left.
Walker’s experience is invaluable in tournament football and despite being a scapegoat for City’s failings this season, he deserves a shot at reaching 100 caps from his current 93. White doesn’t make the squad until he has proven his desire to represent his country and that he is in Arsenal’s first-choice back four, plus he has only made 11 league appearances this season due to a knee injury anyway. Rico Lewis probably remains England’s best answer to the left-back issue, but Spence deserves recognition for his form with Spurs of late.
Jones’ sublime performance away against Greece in November should provide enough confidence he can partner Rice in midfield, unless Bellingham drops further back. But with Palmer and Foden both being out of form, England’s talisman should remain closer to goal to support Kane. If Bellingham plays deeper, Rogers deserves a call-up after 12 goals in 40 appearances for Aston Villa this season and, despite not having played for the under-21s yet, Nwaneri should be fast-tracked as a wildcard pick until Bukayo Saka returns from injury. The 17-year-old has eight goals for Arsenal this season in 28 games.
There were questions over Kane’s fitness at last summer’s Euros, but their 31-year-old captain remains integral to England’s hopes of success at the World Cup and he has 31 goals in 35 games for Bayern Munich this season. Watkins provides a suitable replacement and despite Delap’s impressive season, Solanke gets the nod over him as the third striker.
Goalkeepers: Pickford, Henderson, Trafford. Defenders: Walker, Alexander-Arnold, Lewis, Spence, Guehi, Maguire, Konsa, Colwill, Branthwaite. Midfielders: Rice, Jones, Bellingham, Palmer, Foden, Rogers, Gordon, Nwaneri. Forwards: Kane, Watkins, Solanke.
(Top photo: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
