As England gear up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, here is a look at five players who missed out on a spot in the squad.
With England’s first warm-up friendly taking place on Saturday 6 June in Florida, USA, and various debates over the some of Thomas Tuchel’s squad selections, there are players who arguably should of been given a spot yet have been left at home.
I have therefore picked out five players who deserved to be within the squad whether as a main member or part of the training selection.
Carl Rushworth
After an exceptional campaign on loan at Coventry from Brighton which saw him help the Sky Blues achieve promotion, Carl Rushworth deserved to at least go as a training goalkeeper in order to gain experience in the senior squad environment.
Despite his league-high 17 clean sheets and 45 saves in 46 league appearances, Rushworth wasn’t likely to trouble Tuchel’s goalkeeping picks within the main squad but having him as a training goalkeeper over Jason Steele would of given him a taster of future senior action given his potential to be a future senior member.
He could of also learned first-hand from Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson and James Trafford which would of benefitted him development wise, especially with a Premier League move beckoning next season whether he stays with Brighton to challenge Bart Verbruggen or moves to another top club.
Lewis Hall
Leaving Lewis Hall out could be easily one of the potentially biggest errors that Tuchel could make in hindsight if England falter at the World Cup,
Whilst the 21 year-old left-back produced just one goal and two assists for Newcastle this season, there is no doubting the creativity that he would of brought to the team on the left flank given his form all season.
Hall also would of offered plenty of versatility given his capability to fill in as a left-sided centre-back or midfielder given his experience in those positions earlier in his career, which could of been an asset to Tuchel in the event of any hypothetical worst-case scenarios.
James Tarkowski
Having quietly performed as one of the best English centre-backs in the Premier League this season in terms of winning duels, blocks, clearances and successful long passes, there should of been an argument for James Tarkowski to be in the squad on his form.
Tuchel yet has left him out in favour of taking John Stones who had endured an injury-hit season purely on the fact that Stones has more experience, which is fair enough but this is the World Cup where form surely should outweigh taking an injury-hit defender if want to win the title.
The fact that Tarkowski didn’t even make the initial 55-man provisional squad list despite his form further raises the question of what he has to do to be recalled after an eight-year absence, when he has produced the form worthy of a place in the squad over Stones.
Tarkowski though hasn’t played under Tuchel but sometimes risks must be taken in the pursuit of success and Tarkowski maybe should of be a risk taken, especially given his leadership qualities.
Adam Wharton
Like Hall, Adam Wharton could be another name that comes up as a stick to batter Tuchel with if England falter given his performances this season.
Like Declan Rice at Arsenal, Wharton was a ley midfield anchor at Crystal Palace with his exceptional ball control and progression as evidenced by his integral role in their UEFA Conference League Final performance against Rayo Vallecano in terms of driving forward their attacks.
His creativity also would of offered Tuchel extra attacking spark in midfield because whilst Rice could dig in defensively, he and Wharton together could of formed a fierce central midfield pair with Wharton turning Rice’s defensive graft into quick attacking transitions.
Elliot Anderson also would of still fitted in well in terms of offering something different tactically to allow Tuchel to mix it up when necessary, yet we face the prospect of safe pass-based tactics without the creative risk taking that Wharton would of offered in central midfield.
Harvey Barnes
Having enjoyed his best season yet for Newcastle with 16 goals and five assists, Harvey Barnes should feel hard done by to have been left out of the squad.
Although it is difficult to justify his inclusion over many of Tuchel’s selected forwards, you would think that he deserve to be in the squad over Noni Madueke – given that the latter only produced seven goal involvements whereas Barnes has been involved in 14 more goals for comparison.
Barnes also would of brought versatility across the forward line given that he can play in both the right and left wing roles, whilst also offering an alternative attacking midfield and second striker tactical option which would of offered Tuchel more tactical variety.
Madueke however has a stronger edge of unpredictability in his dribbling and individual skill but at a World Cup, Barnes probably would of been a wiser alternative if look at it in terms of tactical unpredictability rather than hoping Madueke can deliver his individual brilliance as an impact right-wing substitute.
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