GOAL runs through the 61 players who have ambitions of representing the Three Lions in North America next summer
Through six games of the Thomas Tuchel era, we are starting to get a better idea of what this England team will look like at next summer's World Cup. Having taken the maximum of 15 points in qualification thus far, fans can start dreaming of glory over in North America in 2026.
Tuesday's 5-0 hammering of Serbia in a hostile Belgrade atmosphere was the sort of performance supporters, players and staff alike had been hoping to see. Tuchel's England had laboured through almost all of their other matches this year, so it was nice to see a reminder that this side are indeed capable of the extraordinary.
Competition for places is heating up, with several key players yet to make their mark under the German's tutelage and some fringe contenders putting in displays that are worthy of receiving a call-up to the tournament finals. So, who will Tuchel call upon next summer? Whose spots are safe and whose are in danger?
GOAL has run through the state of the England squad pool ahead of the World Cup, dividing 61 players into nine categories depending on their status in the manager's eyes:
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For starters, we need to preface these categories with the presumption that every player who Tuchel wants to call upon will be fit come the time he needs to send his final selections to FIFA (bar the last grouping, but that will become self-explanatory later).
Nonetheless, there are still probably only five players who will be on the plane given their reliability when it comes to performances for club and country. Captain and all-time leading scorer Harry Kane, despite the odd call for him to be dropped from the starting XI in games that are of little consequence, is as nailed on as ever to go.
Arsenal have two representatives in this bracket, with Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka still two of the Three Lions' most consistent stars when free from injury. Jude Bellingham, whose supposedly petulant attitude has come into question, is one of the only true global superstars for Tuchel to choose from. Even if he isn't a starter, he will be at the World Cup if he is fit, no questions asked.
For years, critics have tried to displace Jordan Pickford from the England XI, yet he has only grown in stature within the squad since his penalty-saving exploits back at Euro 2020. We all love a madman goalkeeper who talks to himself sometimes; he's the No.1 until further notice.
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Next up, we have the players who Tuchel is clearly keen on using and will almost certainly rely upon, but they aren't quite in that very top tier. For example, the German has expressed his desire to use John Stones, though the Manchester City defender's patchy fitness record has prevented this from happening to date. The manager may not feel comfortable throwing the veteran back in at the deep end for competitive fixtures without prior practice first.
In Stones' place, Tuchel has found a solid centre-back partnership in Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa and Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi, both of whom scored their first international goals in Tuesday's win in Serbia. Konsa's club team-mate, Morgan Rogers, was similarly scintillating and has made quite the pitch to start as England's most advanced midfielder, ahead of even close friend Cole Palmer, who is yet to explode under Tuchel's management, and Arsenal sensation Eberechi Eze.
Tuchel has also hung his hat on one of his old favourites at right-back in Chelsea skipper Reece James. Again, this is a task where we are presuming everyone will be at peak conditioning next summer, and if James is at even 75 percent full health, then he will be in that final squad.
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We're still splitting hairs when it comes to players who, unless their world falls apart, would be shocked if they don't receive a phone call from Tuchel and his staff with good news next June. These are still important distinctions to make, however.
Ollie Watkins, as the first reserve for Kane, cannot be considered at the same level as his superior, nor is back-up goalkeeper Dean Henderson neck-and-neck with Pickford.
Even before his move to Barcelona, Marcus Rashford was someone Tuchel has wanted to keep a close eye on ever since his first selection back in March. "I had the strong feeling that we should nominate him, bring him in and to push him to stay on that level to not fall back on old routines," the boss said following Rashford's fine start to his previous loan spell at Villa.
Forcing his way into this bracket over the course of the September internationals is Elliot Anderson, who is currently the greatest thing since sliced bread following two superb outings as England's deepest midfielder.
"First of all, Elliot deserved to be with us for his performances with his club and the Under-21s, that was very impressive," Tuchel said on Tuesday. "When I saw him perform in the [U21 European Championship] final, I had the idea that maybe he can be a No.6, maybe playing to his strengths. He was excellent in camp, like everyone else. The group made it as easy as possible for him, but he did all the effort that is needed with two excellent performances throughout. It's on him to keep going, to keep the lightness and the freedom he needs for his game. He's just a very, very good football player and a very good team-mate in camp."
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Here we have the names who are either in fine form or have a performance or skillset of note that Tuchel is mindful of. Following on from his first England goal this week, Noni Madueke is all the more likely to head to the World Cup, but whether he will get enough game time for Arsenal once Saka returns could see his chances reduced again in the near future.
Myles Lewis-Skelly, who has been shunned by Mikel Arteta for Riccardo Calafiori so far this season and was the sole player from this camp left out of Tuchel's squad to face Serbia, is likewise starting to face more of a fight for his spot.
The experience of Jordan Henderson and Dan Burn is valued by Tuchel too, even if they are far from guaranteed starters. There is a similar sort of dependability about Jarrod Bowen, who has continually received call-ups amid his herculean efforts to carry a drab West Ham side through the mud.
Of the younger contingent, Tino Livramento has quietly become more of a regular in the England fold with Tuchel at the helm, and his ability to play on either side of defence makes him a useful squad option at the very least.
