With England’s squad announcement for the 2026 FIFA World Cup drawing nearer, here’s a look at who deserves a place in Thomas Tuchel’s selection.
As Tuchel prepares to name his squad tomorrow morning, questions are swirling as to which players deserve to be on the plane to the USA with plenty of selection headaches.
On that note, I have taken a look at each section of the squad and picked out who I think should make the squad – of which some selections were easier than others.
Goalkeepers
Tuchel will probably of found his goalkeeping selection a breeze because Jordan Pickford and Dean Henderson are two obvious picks, given their strong performances this season for Everton and Crystal Palace respectively.
Nick Pope feels like the likely outsider for the third-choice role if there is a surprise name but I just think that James Trafford will take that position, purely on suiting Tuchel’s style better despite having been second choice at Manchester City aside from cup competitions.
Defence
Tuchel has plenty of defensive options available to him but I do feel that Trevoh Chalobah, Lewis Dunk, Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa are guaranteed inclusions within the central section of the line-up.
The fifth centre-back spot surely is between Dan Burn and Harry Maguire but Levi Colwill has surely forced his way into the squad with his recent form – despite having spent much of the season sidelined with an ACL injury and I can see him getting the spot on merit.
There however is plenty of competition for the fullback positions but Nico O’Reilly and Lewis Hall feel like confident calls for the left-back position, with the pair also having experience of central midfield positions which adds tactical versatility if required.
Reece James has to be included in the right-back selections because despite Chelsea’s inconsistency this season, he has undoubtedly been one of their best players in terms of consistent performances so would take a serious injury in their final match of the season to prevent him from going.
Tino Livramento meanwhile should be included given that he is on course to be fit by early June as things currently stand, but there could be an argument of giving him the summer to rest up and not risk further injury although I would take him if he is likely to be fit for a main substitute role.
Midfield
Morgan Rogers, Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliott Anderson immediately stand out as obvious midfield call-ups after their exceptional seasons, and I definitely expect the trio to be on the plane alongside Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice whose inclusions feel like a formality.
Kobbie Mainoo also feels like he has to be in the squad given his improvement which leaves Adam Wharton and James Garner as the tricky midfield decision given their consistency at Palace and Everton, but Wharton’s style feels more closely aligned with Tuchel’s so he should get the edge.
Jordan Henderson probably will be included purely on grounds of his leadership qualities and international experience but I personally would of taken a risk in Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall given his form, especially when got Rice who brings leadership to the team.
Jack Hinshelwood though deserves a shoutout because he has enjoyed a strong season but there is just too much competition, but I would take him and Dewsbury-Hall as designated training players for the experience if I were Tuchel.
Phil Foden and Cole Palmer ordinarily would be sure-fire names in the selection but after dips in form this season, one of those two ideally should be left out which probably has to be Foden because Palmer brings more in terms of tactical adaptability.
Forward
Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford feel like sure-fire names in terms of the wide forward role, whilst Harry Kane is a guaranteed central forward pick.
Anthony Gordon is a versatile option to have because he is capable to playing both out wide and centrally although he hasn’t started for Newcastle lately due to rumours over his future, but that could be a positive in terms of freshness at the end of a long season compared to other forwards in the selection.
Tuchel also would be wise to take another primary forward as back-up to Kane and park any grumbles over Ivan Toney playing in Saudi Arabia, because the latter is the ideal back-up given his goalscoring form this season whilst Gordon and Rashford can also fill that position if required.
Although it looks like just three wide forwards would go if I was in charge, Gibbs-White and Rogers also can play in those positions despite being in the midfield selection so the wide positions are more than adequately covered in my hypothetical selection,
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Danny Welbeck deserve mentions given their form this season but it is a tough call to leave them out, as they would immediately be in if there had been less competition or injury depletion in any other year and likewise for Harvey Barnes.
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