A winless international break – a draw against Uruguay and a loss to Japan – proved hardly the ideal fortnight for England boss Thomas Tuchel.
And the performance of his England side without key stalwarts such as Harry Kane, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, and John Stones may well have prompted more questions than answers.
Tuchel will have two months to consider all that before he names his 26-man World Cup squad in north America this summer.
Several players have already excelled under the German tactician and, barring injury, will be certainties in England’s World Cup squad.
But with the form of several key players up for debate, questions still remain over the makeup of the final few positions, particularly in midfield and forward areas.
So who will complete Tuchel’s 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup? Let’s take a look…
Goalkeepers
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Besides captain Harry Kane, Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is perhaps the most nailed-on inclusion for this summer’s World Cup squad, having maintained the number-one jersey since Tuchel’s arrival.
Dean Henderson looks set to deputise as back-up, while the decision to start James Trafford against Uruguay suggests that the Manchester City ‘keeper is ahead of Aaron Ramsdale in the hunt for the third-choice spot.
Defenders
Ezri Konsa has played the most minutes of any defender under Tuchel so far and has surely cemented his place, along with Marc Guehi.
But it has proved another frustrating international break for John Stones, who was forced to withdraw without playing a minute due to yet more injury woes.
Tuchel has not hidden his admiration for the City defender, and if he is close to fit, the experienced centre-back will likely play a role at the World Cup.
But without a minute of Premier League action this calendar year, question marks will only grow if the 31-year-old features sparingly between now and the rest of the season.
Looking to take force his case this camp was the returning Harry Maguire, but Tuchel’s comments last week suggest the Manchester United centre-back faces an uphill battle to make the final squad.
At full-back, Reece James and Nico O’Reilly appear to be Tuchel’s first choice duo, while Newcastle duo Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall will be high up in the German’s thoughts as their back-ups.
Djed Spence has proved popular due to his versatility on both flanks and will also vie for a place, while Ben White might also be a late contender having returned to the England fold after a four-year absence.
But there appears to be no likely route into the team for Trent Alexander-Arnold after the Real Madrid star didn’t even make the expanded 35-man squad for this international break.
Midfielders
Central midfield is one of the few areas in England’s squad where there appears to be little debate.
Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson are both certainties, while the experience of Jordan Henderson is well-valued by Tuchel as part of the wider squad.
Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers will also surely take their place as the pair contest for the starting berth in the No10 role.
Beyond that, there is uncertainty, though. Tuchel has flipped and flopped between naming six or seven midfielders in his squad and will have to weight up that balance for his final 26-man squad.
Adam Wharton, Kobbie Mainoo and James Garner appear to be the next cabs off the rank. If Tuchel opts for seven, two might feature, but if the England boss wants an extra defender or forward, only one might secure a ticket.
Forwards
The suggestion that either Phil Foden or Cole Palmer could be left out of England’s World Cup squad might have been inconceivable only a few months ago.
But as both struggle for form at club level, Tuchel could well find it hard to justify including both in his selection as he seeks a balanced, varied attack.
Foden’s disappointing showings against Uruguay and Japan will not have helped to further the City star’s case. Palmer, on the other hand, while wasteful against Japan, did at least impress off the bench last week and may be preferred as an impact sub, a role he thrived in under Gareth Southgate at Euro 2024.
In wide areas, Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon should expect to be included, while Noni Madueke and Marcus Rashford have both proved popular with Tuchel.
Jarrod Bowen’s impressive season at West Ham deserves recognition, while the versatility of Eberechi Eze should make him a valuable squad member.
Strikers
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Dominic Solanke were both given chances to impress in this international break, with Ollie Watkins left behind having been the de facto deputy to Harry Kane under Tuchel up to this point.
Tuchel has been keen to stress that he knows what Watkins can offer to this squad, and after given Calvert-Lewin and Solanke a chance to audition, the German may be minded to turn back to the Aston Villa star for this summer’s main event.
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