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  "path": "/2026/04/01/71-days-go-predicting-thomas-tuchels-england-squad-2026-world-cup-27782872/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-01T07:00:00.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Football",
    "Sport",
    "Bukayo Saka",
    "Cole Palmer",
    "Declan Rice",
    "Eberechi Eze",
    "England men's football team",
    "Harry Kane",
    "Harry Maguire",
    "John Stones",
    "Jordan Henderson",
    "Jordan Pickford",
    "Jude Bellingham",
    "Kobbie Mainoo",
    "Marc Guehi",
    "Marcus Rashford",
    "Noni Madueke",
    "Ollie Watkins",
    "Phil Foden",
    "Reece James",
    "Thomas Tuchel",
    "Trent Alexander-Arnold",
    "World Cup",
    "loss to Japan",
    "England",
    "Sign up here",
    "Everton",
    "Dean Henderson",
    "Manchester City",
    "Aaron Ramsdale",
    "Tuchel’s comments last week",
    "didn’t even make the expanded 35-man squad for this international break.",
    "check our sport page",
    "Facebook",
    "Twitter",
    "Instagram",
    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source"
  ],
  "textContent": "Who will Thomas Tuchel take on the plane to North America? (Pictures: Getty/Metro)\n\nA winless international break – a draw against Uruguay and a loss to Japan – proved hardly the ideal fortnight for England boss Thomas Tuchel.\n\nAnd 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.\n\nTuchel will have two months to consider all that before he names his 26-man World Cup squad in north America this summer.\n\nSeveral players have already excelled under the German tactician and, barring injury, will be certainties in England’s World Cup squad.\n\nBut 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.\n\nSo who will complete Tuchel’s 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup? Let’s take a look…\n\n## Goalkeepers\n\n##  Your football fix\n\n**Metro** 's Head of Sport James Goldman delivers punchy analysis, transfer talk and his take on the week's biggest stories direct to your inbox every week.\n\nSign up here, it's an open goal.\n\nJames Trafford made his first England start against Uruguay (Picture: Getty)\n\nBesides 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.\n\nDean 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.\n\n## Defenders\n\nQuestion marks remain over John Stones and Harry Maguire (Picture: Getty)\n\nEzri Konsa has played the most minutes of any defender under Tuchel so far and has surely cemented his place, along with Marc Guehi.\n\nBut 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.\n\nTuchel 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.\n\nBut 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.\n\nLooking 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.\n\nAt 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.\n\nDjed 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.\n\nBut 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.\n\n## Midfielders\n\nCentral midfield is one of the few areas in England’s squad where there appears to be little debate.\n\nDeclan Rice and Elliot Anderson are both certainties, while the experience of Jordan Henderson is well-valued by Tuchel as part of the wider squad.\n\nJude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers will also surely take their place as the pair contest for the starting berth in the No10 role.\n\nBeyond 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.\n\nAdam 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.\n\n## Forwards\n\nThere is plenty of competition in forward areas (Picture: Getty)\n\nThe 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.\n\nBut 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.\n\nFoden’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.\n\nIn wide areas, Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon should expect to be included, while Noni Madueke and Marcus Rashford have both proved popular with Tuchel.\n\nJarrod Bowen’s impressive season at West Ham deserves recognition, while the versatility of Eberechi Eze should make him a valuable squad member.\n\n## Strikers\n\nDominic 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.\n\nTuchel 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.\n\n**For more stories like this, check our sport page**.\n\n**Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on**Facebook,** Twitter and Instagram**.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "After England’s defeat against Japan this is the World Cup squad Thomas Tuchel must pick"
}