The World Cup is just a few months away, and Thomas Tuchel seems to have a sense of his 25-man squad and how he wants to put together the puzzle of his team’s identity.
Tuchel has a clear way of playing with England, and wants a certain style full of energy, physicality, and discipline. Players who are more capable of free-styling and freelancing like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jude Bellingham have sometimes been left out, in favour of players who stick to a very specific task for Tuchel.
As we live in an era where the England squad no longer picks itself, all of us would select a different side. So with that, I wanted to pick my own, separate from Tuchel’s. This is not my prediction of who will go to the World Cup with The Three Lions, but who I think needs to be in Tuchel’s squad.
GOALKEEPERS (3)
JORDAN PICKFORD
Embed from Getty ImagesI’ve always liked Jordan Pickford. He’s a sublime shot stopper, underrated with his kicking and distribution, and a vocal leader at the back. Pickford’s proven himself at big tournaments, and he’s had several successful seasons in a row for Everton. He should be the first choice keeper on the list.
DEAN HENDERSON
Embed from Getty ImagesDean Henderson is the easy pick at Pickford’s successor should any funny business go down. Henderson’s been stellar for Crystal Palace over the past few seasons, and now has European, knockout football under his belt too. Plus, he’s the only goalkeeper in the world to wear a hat. Style points, for sure.
AARON RAMSDALE
Embed from Getty ImagesAaron Ramsdale is one of my personal favourite goalkeepers, and he’s deserved to reclaim the goalkeeping gloves at Newcastle. He’s similar to Pickford in his communication and command at the back, and a fantastic shot stopper. Good enough in possession and with the ball at his feet, no one else should be the third-choice keeper for the team.
Injury Replacements: Carl Rushworth, Nick Pope
DEFENDERS (10)
REECE JAMES
Embed from Getty ImagesReece James is having the season of his life. Now in a race for fitness ahead of the tournament, England will be hopeful that the Chelsea captain can get back to full health before the summer. He’s been fantastic for Chelsea this season in both central midfield and full-back. Given Tuchel’s clear issue with Trent Alexander-Arnold, James now becomes the only top tier right-back at England’s disposal.
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD
Embed from Getty ImagesThere is probably no one in the England squad who can offer more on the ball than Trent Alexander-Arnold. There are very few players in the world for that matter. So I don’t really care how Tuchel wants to play with his team. Omitting Trent Alexander-Arnold is a mistake. He gives you quality from a dead-ball, another option in midfield, and plenty of defensive aptitude despite what people often say. Tuchel clearly wants players who are defensive-first in the position. Should James be unavailable, he’s likely to shift a centre-back out there as he pushes his left full-back higher up. But this would be a big loss for England, who will have plenty of possession and only a few players who can carve a defense open from anywhere on the pitch like the Madrid full-back.
MARC GUEHI
Embed from Getty ImagesMarc Guehi has to be the first centre-back in the team, now becoming the main man in defense for club and country. He’s had an impressive enough start at Manchester City after years of solid performances at Palace, and gives Tuchel everything he values through his speed, physicality, and discipline.
EZRI KONSA
Embed from Getty ImagesEzri Konsa has been one of the Premier League’s best centre-backs over the past few campaigns, even becoming part of Villa’s captain contingency. Another disciplined, hard-working, and defensive-first centre-back, Konsa is a likely partner for Guehi, or a potential option for Tuchel at right-back.
HARRY MAGUIRE
Embed from Getty ImagesHarry Maguire has enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career. If people had a problem with his necessary inclusion under Gareth Southgate where he was brilliant at every single tournament, they can’t have any claim to make now if he makes the team this summer. Maguire brings leadership, experience, set-piece threat, and poise in possession at the back. He can play on the right or left of that centre-back pairing, and brings that tournament football experience that Konsa and Guehi lack.
LUKE SHAW
Embed from Getty ImagesLuke Shaw would be my first choice left-back for England. He’s played more minutes for Manchester United this season than any other before, yet he’s not part of the conversation for the first time in his life. This feels so wrong. Shaw’s been an ever-present for United this season, and clearly still has the wheels to get forward and be a nuisance for an opposition defense. What’s perhaps even stranger is that he does feel very much like a Thomas Tuchel full-back. Defensively sound, physical, speedy, flexible in underlapping or overlapping… He brings so much to the team that can’t be overlooked!
LEWIS HALL
Embed from Getty ImagesPart of the reason why Luke Shaw might miss out this summer is because of how good Lewis Hall has been for Newcastle. He reminds me of a young Luke Shaw. When he’s bombing forward with the ball at his feet, you just get the sense that something good is going to happen. He’s been great at seeing the spaces to attack for the Magpies, also nicely dovetailing runs between the inside and outside channels depending on Newcastle’s approach. One of the younger players in the squad, the 21-year-old would get a great experience out of being part of the team.
NICO O’REILLY
Embed from Getty ImagesNico O’Reilly is probably the most Tuchel like full-back in the squad. He’s super physical, super sound in bringing the ball out from the back, and brings more height and strength to the team. He’s been playing in central midfield as of late for City, making him an even more enticing option for Tuchel’s team.
JOHN STONES
Embed from Getty ImagesI must admit, I think there’s so much value in taking players who have proven themselves in an England squad, especially at the tournaments before Tuchel’s reign. I don’t understand Stones’ situation for a struggling Manchester City, and why he’s not in the team, if he’s fit enough to be called-up to the England camp for these March fixtures. Stones is probably England’s best all-rounder in defense. He rarely makes mistakes, dribbles and carries with ease, and brings additional leadership and organization to the defensive line.
FIKAYO TOMORI
Embed from Getty ImagesI think this final defensive spot in the team will go to Dan Burn, who fully deserves his place in the team and is the only left-footed centre-back in the team. But I’d love to see Fikayo Tomori stake his claim this month. Tomori is one of the best natural defenders in the team, and Tuchel said as much in his recent press-conference. Unfortunately for the AC Milan man, as Tuchel described his defensive aptitude, I couldn’t help but interpret his words to mean what else Tomori might be missing. From Tuchel’s perspective, that might mean more of a presence on the ball. But the Milan defender is quite a sound progressor. In fact, it’s his defensive duelling and discipline that can more easily be overruled by the likes of Konsa, Guehi, and a healthy John Stones.
Injury Replacements: Dan Burn, Jarell Quansah, James Hill, Trevoh Chalobah, Tino Livramento
MIDFIELDERS (7)
DECLAN RICE
Embed from Getty ImagesDeclan Rice is probably the first name on the team. He’s the first name in midfield, certainly. Capable of playing as the defined ‘6’ or ‘8’ in a 4-3-3, or as part of a double pivot in a midfield two, Rice is the presence you want on the ball, and in corralling defensive situations. Rice will start, and so too will Elliot Anderson, if Thomas Tuchel opts for that 4-2-3-1. This makes the midfield selections after all the easier for me.
JUDE BELLINGHAM
Embed from Getty ImagesIf I had the England team to myself, I would start Jude Bellingham and Eberechi Eze as the attacking outlets either side of Declan Rice in a midfield three. Bellingham is brilliant on the ball, a workhorse in all phases of the game, and a good goal-scorer. I’m glad that Tuchel’s changed his tune on the former Dortmund man, and I’m hoping he can find a place for Bellingham in the first team. On paper, he’s one of the best players in the team.
EBERECHI EZE
Embed from Getty ImagesEberechi Eze has to be in the England squad for me. He’s looked brilliant every time he’s played for Arsenal this campaign, and capable of playing in so many positions. He’s great off the left in a midfield three, creative and effective as the ’10’ in a 4-2-3-1, and can fulfill responsibilities on the wing if need be. With that dynamism on the dribble and the way he can drive forward, Eze has to be someone that England call upon to change football matches, if not win them from the start.
ELLIOT ANDERSON
Embed from Getty ImagesIf it’s a midfield two for Tuchel, you can’t look past Elliot Anderson. He’s so solid in all phases of the game. An elegant progressor, creative passer, and defensive stalwart that can reliably break up play and compliment Declan Rice’s ability on the ball with added defensive gusto. When you compare him to Adam Wharton, Anderson is more capable of adding intensity into defensive phases, whether that be in pressing, transitions or wherever. He’s just as good (if not better) on the ball, so this is a no brainer.
KOBBIE MAINOO
Embed from Getty ImagesKobbie Mainoo can bring something different to the England midfield, just as he has done for Michael Carrick in Manchester this year. He brings that box-to-box energy that Bellingham provides, without needing to be the centre of attention on the ball all the time. If you already have Rice and Anderson controlling the game and picking passes out for fun, bring in someone like Mainoo to offer an all-around skillset, a bit of extra drive, and experience ahead of a future tournament.
COLE PALMER
Embed from Getty ImagesTuchel has three solid options for a ’10’ in his 4-2-3-1 – Eberechi Eze, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers. He’s preferred Morgan Rogers during his tenure, but Palmer has the most upside for changing matches and offering a goal or assist. After achieving 23 goal contributions in 2024-25, his 10 this time is seen as an underperformance. But Palmer still has immense quality, and would be useful in a few different positions. He’s not the type of player that fits naturally into a 4-3-3 unless he’s beating Saka to place off the right; so he’d be more likely to start in that 4-2-3-1.
MORGAN ROGERS
Embed from Getty ImagesMorgan Rogers’ goals have dried up a bit as of late, but he’s had a great season with Aston Villa. He’s been one of their best players in their charge toward Champions League football, scoring 8 goals with 5 assists in the league. He could play off the left in a 4-2-3-1 or through the middle, which are both more open for debate than Palmer’s fight for a place down the right. Rogers is quicker, more dynamic, and more of a transitional player than Palmer and Eze. The other two offer more creativity and star power. Tuchel isn’t bothered too much by star power, and clearly likes Rogers.
Injury Replacements: Jordan Henderson, Phil Foden, Adam Wharton, James Garner
Embed from Getty ImagesIn defending some of these picks, I will quickly say that Phil Foden is a brilliant ball player, but has always been overrated in what he can provide in all phases of the game. I’d rather have additional defensive coverage in my team, and think the forwards will provide more of a goal threat. Jordan Henderson makes my team if anyone gets injured. He’d be the first player I’d add to the dressing room, even if he doesn’t play. Adam Wharton is brilliant on the ball, but more limited than the other midfielders listed; and James Garner deserves his call-up but probably won’t feature this summer.
FORWARDS (5)
HARRY KANE
Embed from Getty ImagesHarry Kane is the other clear and obvious first name on the team sheet. He’ll score the bulk of England’s goals that come from open play, and help to facilitate everything they do in possession. He’s both a creative presence and the best goal-scorer England have ever had. England will then be looking for someone that can offer something “different” off the bench – perhaps more physicality and aerial presence. But I’d rather England just play with Rashford or Bowen up top if Kane succumbs to injury.
BUKAYO SAKA
Embed from Getty ImagesBukayo Saka is another guaranteed starter, whether it’s a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3. He’ll be a necessary presence for England’s right side, given the unpredictability of who might feature at full-back. Meanwhile, he’ll be one of the key players feeding Harry Kane for goals, or offering them up himself.
MARCUS RASHFORD
Embed from Getty ImagesMarcus Rashford has enjoyed his time in Barcelona, and would be my pick to start off the left for his country in a 4-3-3. Rashford has so much energy and attacking drive to offer, especially for the runs he makes in behind a defense, and his finishing touch in front of goal. Anthony Gordon is an equally good option, but Rashford brings more experience.
ANTHONY GORDON
Embed from Getty ImagesI feel like far too much was being made of Anthony Gordon’s lack of goals this season before he became the ‘9’ in Eddie Howe’s team and started scoring. Gordon’s always dangerous off the left, and always likely to create something with the ball at his feet. He’s another player that just screams danger when he gets the ball. He adds the necessary defensive bite, and, apparently, another option as a backup ‘9’.
JARROD BOWEN
Embed from Getty ImagesJarrod Bowen is England’s top goal contributor in the Premier League this season. He’s shown a maturity to his game this season as the new captain of his team, scoring 8 goals with 6 assists in the league in their fight against relegation. Bowen gives that same quality that Rashford offers, just on the other side. He’s great at dribbling and creating, but he’s better charging forward in behind an opposition defense and finishing off the chance.
Injury Replacements: Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Phil Foden
So there it is! My England squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Who makes your team? Comment below to share your thoughts. Thanks for reading and see you soon!
Discover more from TheMastermindSite
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
TheMastermindSite 