England’s newly appointed head coach, Thomas Tuchel, is set to unveil his first squad on Friday morning as preparations begin for the start of the Three Lions’ World Cup qualifying campaign.
England will face Latvia and Albania on March 21 and 24, with Tuchel having just seven international windows and around 450 days to shape the squad for the ultimate challenge—winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Tuchel has scheduled his squad announcement for Friday, allowing him to consider English players involved in Thursday’s European fixtures for Manchester United, Tottenham, and Chelsea.
Over recent weeks, the German tactician has reportedly had one-on-one conversations with more than 55 players, according to BBC Sport sources. FA chief Mark Bullingham acknowledged Tuchel’s efforts in “building connections” within the squad.
Though Tuchel has spent some time working remotely from Germany, Bullingham recently confirmed that he is based at St. George’s Park and currently resides in London.
Tuchel has been a familiar face at Premier League matches and has traveled extensively to assess key England players, including trips to Milan to watch Kyle Walker, Madrid for Jude Bellingham, and Germany to observe national team captain Harry Kane.
His assistant, Anthony Barry, has also been monitoring players individually, while Tuchel has been spending two to three days a week at St. George’s Park, working with his backroom staff to finalize plans for next week’s training camp.
With an 18-month mandate focused on securing silverware, Tuchel faces a crucial decision—whether to rely on experienced players he is familiar with or integrate emerging talents. Interim manager Lee Carsley had leaned toward youth development, prioritizing long-term squad growth.
England’s defensive lineup faces a shake-up as established centre-backs Harry Maguire and John Stones are both sidelined with injuries. Young defenders Marc Guehi, Levi Colwill, and Jarrad Branthwaite are strong candidates to step in.
Arsenal’s Ben White, who made himself unavailable for international duty after the 2022 World Cup, has been approached by Tuchel. White, capable of playing both at right-back and centre-back, could make a return, while Chelsea captain Reece James—whom Tuchel has previously worked with—is also an option.
In midfield, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice are all but certain selections, leaving one midfield spot open in a three-man setup. Kobbie Mainoo occupied that role at Euro 2024 but is currently injured, while Carsley had introduced Angel Gomes, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Curtis Jones during his tenure.
Tuchel has also been closely monitoring Adam Wharton at Selhurst Park, having attended Crystal Palace’s last two Premier League matches. The former Blackburn midfielder was in England’s Euro 2024 squad but did not feature, though his recent performances suggest he could be the deep-lying playmaker the team needs.
England’s all-time top scorer, Harry Kane, was a major discussion point over the summer regarding the team’s attacking evolution. However, with Tuchel—his former Bayern Munich manager—now in charge, any speculation about moving on from the striker has faded, especially given Kane’s 10 Champions League and 21 Bundesliga goals this season.
This squad selection poses unique challenges, as injuries and form issues have reduced England’s usual attacking depth. Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, and Jack Grealish are struggling with form, while Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke are sidelined. Meanwhile, Anthony Gordon, Ollie Watkins, and Morgan Rogers are enjoying strong runs, and Aston Villa’s Marcus Rashford—on loan from Manchester United—could be a surprise inclusion.
Tuchel has historically favored both the 4-2-3-1 and 3-4-2-1 formations, the latter of which he swiftly implemented at Chelsea en route to Champions League success.
His tactical approach is often pragmatic, with meticulous attention to detail for each player. At Bayern, he effectively used direct play and diagonal passes to exploit one-on-one situations, a strategy that helped eliminate Arsenal from last season’s Champions League.
A major clue about Tuchel’s tactical setup will come from his defensive selections. If six centre-backs are named for two matches, it could signal a back-three formation. The inclusion of Crystal Palace’s Tyrick Mitchell—who operates as a left wing-back under Oliver Glasner—could further indicate this shift.
One of Tuchel’s biggest dilemmas is at left-back, a position that proved problematic for England at Euro 2024. Former Chelsea defender Lewis Hall, who was expected to be a key contender, has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to injury.
Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly, despite primarily being a midfielder at youth level, has enjoyed an impressive breakthrough season and could be considered.
Mitchell, who earned two England caps in 2022, has not featured since but could be in contention given Tuchel’s frequent scouting visits to Selhurst Park. Another wildcard option is Tottenham’s Djed Spence, a right-footed left wing-back who was recently nominated for February’s Premier League Player of the Month after a string of strong performances under Ange Postecoglou.
Potential Wildcards: Nwaneri, Gittens, Delap, Anderson
Ethan Nwaneri: Arsenal’s promising 17-year-old has made an impressive impact in his debut season, netting eight goals in 30 appearances. His performances have earned widespread praise from pundits, teammates, and manager Mikel Arteta.
Jamie Bynoe-Gittens: The 20-year-old England youth international has been thriving at Borussia Dortmund, scoring four goals in 12 Champions League matches this season.
Liam Delap: Seen as a potential long-term successor to Harry Kane in England’s striker role, the 21-year-old Ipswich forward has already registered 10 Premier League goals, despite his club battling relegation.
Elliott Anderson: The 22-year-old Nottingham Forest midfielder has impressed this season. Eligible to represent both England and Scotland, he has previously featured at the Under-21 level for both nations.
To read more stories like this, click sports.