One final experiment? Unpicking Tuchel's latest England squad

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Players have to push for their World Cup ticket - Tuchel

Chief football writerPublished8 hours ago1230 CommentsEngland head coach Thomas Tuchel's decision to name an expanded 35-man squad for friendlies against Uruguay and Japan at Wembley has afforded him room to experiment before this summer's World Cup.

It has meant a recall for forgotten men such as Manchester United's Harry Maguire and Leeds United striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with in-form Everton midfielder James Garner also winning his first call-up.

While offering the chance for some who may have thought their England careers were over to restate their case, Tuchel's squad for the games against Uruguay on Friday, 27 March and Japan on Tuesday, 31 March also underscores some serious dilemmas he faces as the World Cup countdown continues.

Calvert-Lewin's England recall is testament to the striker's self-belief and desire to emerge from the dark times of seasons when he struggled with injury.

When he spoke of renewed England ambitions after completing a free transfer from Everton to Leeds United in the summer, eyebrows were raised at both his optimism and whether Tuchel would ever seriously feel the need to call on him.

Now, Calvert-Lewin's rejuvenation and continued fitness at Elland Road has prompted a return for the 29-year-old, who won 11 caps and made his last appearance in July 2021 when he played 17 minutes off the bench against Ukraine at the delayed Euros.

Calvert-Lewin deserves huge credit for his persistence - but his call-up also underscores a huge concern for England and Tuchel.

That worry is the massive drop-off in proven quality at international level should any misfortune befall England captain and record goalscorer Harry Kane.

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins was long considered the deputy, scoring the winner in the Euro 2024 semi-final against the Netherlands, but his patchy club form means he is not even included in this squad.

Tottenham Hotspur's Dominic Solanke is the other striker, making his way back this season after several months on the sidelines with an ankle problem.

Marcus Rashford could fill the role but is now used in the wider positions, while Anthony Gordon has played through the centre for Newcastle United without ever looking a neat fit.

This demonstrates the alternatives to Kane - aged 32 but still in magnificent form for Bayern Munich - are worryingly thin for Tuchel and England.

Calvert-Lewin's inclusion is a heart-warming redemption tale, but Tuchel and England supporters must pray nothing happens to Kane, who has scored 78 goals in 112 appearances, or their World Cup hopes could be wrecked.

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'What's meant for you won't pass you by' - Dominic Calvert-Lewin on Leeds and England

Tuchel surely signalled the end of Trent Alexander-Arnold's World Cup hopes when he was excluded from England's latest squad, even with 35 players named and resources at right-back stretched.

England's head coach has long appeared to hold misgivings about the 27-year-old Real Madrid star's defensive capabilities, as did predecessor Gareth Southgate, who ended up using Alexander-Arnold as a midfielder in a short-lived, failed experiment at Euro 2024.

The former Liverpool defender is slowly settling into life at the Bernabeu, but this has cut no ice with Tuchel.

Alexander-Arnold can surely only read one thing into being left out of the 35-man squad when likely first choice Reece James is injured once more, while Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier have retired.

It is that he should make alternative plans for the summer.

Tuchel's squad is also ominous for Watkins, a long-time member of the England set-up but dropped completely this time.

Manchester United's Luke Shaw may also have a similar sinking feeling, while Manchester City defender John Stones is a more complicated case.

Stones remains England's classiest defender, and one of their most experienced, who Tuchel would surely call on if he was fit. The 31-year-old has, however, only started 11 games for City this season, leaving a question mark over his inclusion.

No contact, no World Cup place? What went wrong for Alexander-Arnold?

Published7 hours agoAlexander-Arnold not in 35-man split England squad

Published13 hours agoMaguire recall shows need for experienceTuchel's inclusion of Manchester United's Maguire is reward for the 33-year-old defender who has shown superb character and inner strength to emerge from a spell when he was a figure of mockery for some opposition fans - and indeed England supporters - when his Old Trafford career looked over.

Maguire turned down potential moves to clubs such as West Ham United, eventually reviving his form to such an extent that he has played a key role in Michael Carrick's rejuvenation at Manchester United this season, fighting his way back into England contention.

He was left out of Southgate's Euro 2024 squad and has yet to figure under Tuchel, winning the last of his 64 caps against the Republic of Ireland in September 2024.

With Stones struggling to string games together, Maguire's experience of major tournaments stretching back to the 2018 World Cup could yet be a valuable commodity this summer - and now he has a chance to make his case.

Tuchel has an embarrassment of riches battling for the number 10 position behind Kane, the hub of England's World Cup operation.

At the end of Euro 2024, it was unthinkable that Jude Bellingham's starting place would be a subject of debate for the 2026 World Cup.

And yet such has been the excellence for club and country of Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers that he now poses a real threat to the Real Madrid superstar, who was portrayed as the key to England's golden future.

Tuchel has shown, especially when he ignored Bellingham's wish to be in the squad to play Wales in a Wembley friendly before travelling to Latvia for a World Cup qualifier in November, that he does not operate a star system.

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Chelsea's Cole Palmer has the class to give England head coach Thomas Tuchel a serious option in the number 10 position

He also has other options in that coveted position which he will get the opportunity to explore in these friendlies - the players' last chances to give Tuchel food for thought.

Chelsea's Cole Palmer has had a mixed season with form and injuries, but remains a stellar talent at his best.

He will still harbour hopes of at least making the World Cup squad - but will need to make a good impression if he gets an opportunity against Uruguay and Japan.

Phil Foden is listed among England's attacking players, and has often been used wide on the left, but he will also be hoping to get a chance in his favoured more central role.

It looks like a straight fight between Bellingham and Rogers, but Palmer has the class to be a wildcard if he can stay fit and find his best form.

Tuchel's decision to name this expanded squad, with rotation between the two friendlies, is a common-sense move designed to give him a longer look at his players in a camp setting.

Everton's Garner is an eye-catching selection after the 25-year-old former Manchester United midfielder's outstanding season so far.

A creator with an eye for goal, and also strong at set-pieces, Garner must be regarded as an outsider.

Tuchel, though, has been hugely impressed on several viewings and was seen locked in lengthy conversation with him after Everton's win at Manchester United in November.

Brighton's 35-year-old goalkeeper Jason Steele has not played in the Premier League this season, but appears to be auditioning for a different World Cup role, having been named "with the prospect of him joining the World Cup squad as a training goalkeeper during the summer".

The call-up is his first at senior international level since he represented Great Britain at the 2012 London Olympics.

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester City), Aaron Ramsdale (Newcastle United), Jason Steele (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Lewis Hall (Newcastle United), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan)

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), James Garner (Everton), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)

Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona, loan from Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur)

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