Thomas Tuchel names his first 26-man England squad
Thomas Tuchel has named his first England squad ahead of the upcoming games for the Three Lions. He begins his road to the 2026 World Cup as England manager with games against Albania and Latvia.
The German will have the advantage of managing both of his first two games in front of the home fans at Wembley, and he’ll want to lay down a marker and prove that he is the right man for the job.
His appointment caused so much controversy when it was first announced that he would be replacing Gareth Southgate on a permanent basis, following Lee Carsley’s temporary tenure, and his first few England selections are no different.
Goalkeepers
Starting between the sticks, Tuchel’s decision to include four goalkeepers in his first England squad might puzzle some, and for good reason.
The general consensus was that Pickford was guaranteed a spot as the current number one, and two more of James Trafford, Dean Henderson, Aaron Ramsdale and Nick Pope would be picked.
So when three more deputies to Pickford were announced, with Pope being the unlucky one to miss out, for only two competitive games with substitution limits, more than a few people questioned the logic behind it.
Henderson and Pickford both have the third most clean sheets in the Premier League, nine apiece, and James Trafford has excelled and then some in the Championship with Burnley, so those three made the most sense to pick.
Ramsdale’s inclusion, given Southampton’s wretched defensive record, is probably the most divisive one, but nonetheless, four goalkeepers seems excessive, especially when it takes one slot in the squad away from another outfield position.
Defenders
Moving into the defence, injuries, as they do with any national team squad, play a part here when discussing these selections. Three of England’s highest profile defenders don’t feature as John Stones, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luke Shaw are all unavailable.
Versatile players seem to be favoured by Tuchel as Dan Burn, Levi Colwill, Ezri Konsa, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Tino Livramento and Jarell Quansah are all adept at playing in more than one defensive position.
Rounding out the defensive selections are three more unilateral players in standout Euro 2024 performer Marc Guehi and right backs Kyle Walker and Reece James.
Walker’s inclusion, given his performances this season, is a particular surprise ahead of in-form right backs like Djed Spence and the returning Ben White.
Other players who miss out include Jarrad Branthwaite, Rico Lewis, Fikayo Tomori and Tyrick Mitchell as well as the injured Harry Maguire, Lewis Hall and Joe Gomez.
Midfielders
In the midfield, there is less variance as England become stronger further up the pitch. Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer and Declan Rice are amongst the first names for every squad when fit and so are unsurprising picks for the squad.
In the more defensive/box to box area where, besides Rice, England struggle for depth, Jordan Henderson has been recalled ahead of the likes of Adam Wharton, Carsley favourite Angel Gomes, the injured Kobbie Mainoo and, most surprisingly of all, Conor Gallagher.
Gallagher has been in great form for Atletico Madrid and was at Chelsea under Tuchel, albeit always away on loan, never making an appearance so his omission comes as a surprise. Curtis Jones can also play in this area and will provide effective cover and maybe even a starting role after his performances for Liverpool.
Further forward in midfield, Morgan Rogers earns a well-deserved call-up as does Eberechi Eze. This leaves out the likes of James Maddison and high-flying Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White.
Forwards
Arguably the area where England, when everyone is fit, have the most depth and the hardest choices is in the forward line. Captain Harry Kane is always a shoo-in, as is Phil Foden.
The other wing options that Tuchel has gone for are the pacey Anthony Gordon on the left and Jarrod Bowen on the right, who has been in great form for West Ham recently, as well as a return for Marcus Rashford.
Rashford’s inclusion will no doubt divide opinion, but he has been in great form since moving on loan to Aston Villa and will be eager to keep it up and impress Tuchel to be in contention for the 2026 World Cup after missing out on Euro 2024.
The choice of Harry Kane’s deputy is, at the moment, a perpetual shoot-out between Dominic Solanke and Ollie Watkins, with Liam Delap still starring for the U21’s and Ivan Toney lingering out of sight and out of mind in the Saudi Pro League.
Whilst Watkins, many would argue, is the better player, it is Solanke who has been given the nod, leaving Watkins at home as perhaps the highest profile player not to have been selected.
Watkins is joined on the no-show list by Jack Grealish, the injured Bukayo Saka, Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens, Ethan Nwaneri, the aforementioned Liam Delap and many more.
Final Squad: D. Henderson, Pickford, Ramsdale, Trafford, Burn, Colwill, James, Guehi, Konsa, Lewis-Skelly, Livramento, Quansah, Walker, Bellingham, Eze, J. Henderson, Jones, Palmer, Rice, Rogers, Bowen, Foden, Gordon, Kane (c), Rashford, Solanke.
