Thomas Tuchel’s First England Squad

England’s new era under Thomas Tuchel kicked off in fine fettle, and the early signs suggest the Three Lions are ready to roar under new leadership. Taking his place in the Wembley hot seat, the German oversaw a 2-0 win over Albania before turning up the heat with a commanding 3-0 triumph against Latvia. The nation of hopefuls got just a sip of what’s brewing under Tuchel, and it’s safe to say their appetite has been whetted at the prospect of finally bringing football home at the 2026 World Cup, in turn putting an end to six decades of heartbreak.

But before dreams of glory can take full flight, the former Champions League-winning Chelsea boss has a long and winding road ahead. Between now and then, he must fine-tune his tactics, nail down his preferred starting XI, and deliver the dreaded axe to those who won’t make the cut. Many believe his options are richer than those available to England’s so-called “Golden Generation” of the 2000s, so it’s by no means an easy task.

Trying to predict who will be on the plane in 15 months’ time might seem like a fool’s errand, but we’ve dusted off the crystal ball to take a glimpse into the future. Before that, however, let’s start with the here and now – Tuchel’s first squad has been put under the microscope after a promising first weekend at the office, with each player being placed on a tier list consisting of ‘plane ticket already booked’, ‘good chance’, ‘jury is still out’, ‘outside chance’, and ‘no chance’.

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Plane Ticket Already Booked

Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Jordan Pickford, Marc Guehi

After all four of these players starred as England made it all the way to the final of a second successive European Championship last summer, none of them are expected to lose their fast-track pass into the World Cup 2026 squad. Jordan Pickford, for instance, wore the number one shirt for the entirety of the Gareth Southgate epoch, while Harry Kane continues to extend his lead as his nation’s all-time leading goalscorer after netting his 70th and 71st goals at the weekend.

In midfield, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice are proving to be the cream of the crop, already among the best in the world and only set to get better as they ripen with experience before the summer of 2026. Meanwhile, Marc Guehi may be a late arrival to England’s defensive hierarchy, often watching from the wings as John Stones and Harry Maguire racked up the minutes, but the Crystal Palace star is rapidly cementing himself as the Three Lions’ standout centre-back. By next year, the question shouldn’t fall on whether he will start – but rather who will partner him.

Good Chance

Dean Henderson, Ezri Konsa, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Reece James, Cole Palmer, Anthony Gordon

Myles Lewis-Skelly, widely regarded as one of the brightest young talents in world football after a breakthrough season with Arsenal, marked his England debut in style by opening the scoring against Albania. In doing so, he became the youngest-ever debutant goalscorer for the Three Lions. Reece James, making his return to international duty after a two-year injury layoff, followed suit by netting a sublime free-kick in his first start back against Latvia just three days later.

Both full-backs are well-placed to carry their promising form into 2026, especially considering the ongoing questions surrounding England’s left-back position. However, perhaps no player made a bigger impression on Tuchel than versatile Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa. Having started both matches, the 27-year-old demonstrated his ability to partner with both the rugged Dan Burn and the more composed, quarterback-like Guehi, earning him valuable recognition.

Although Cole Palmer didn’t feature during Tuchel’s first international break due to injury, he has long looked like Bellingham’s best understudy, and there’s growing optimism that the Chelsea star will become a key figure for England in the years ahead. As time goes on, he seems to be outshining players like Phil Foden, a claim bolstered by his impressive goal contributions last season – more than anyone else in the Premier League – despite Southgate only giving him 146 minutes during Euro 2024.

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Jury is Still Out

James Trafford, Dan Burn, Levi Colwill, Morgan Rogers, Phil Foden, Marcus Rashford, Curtis Jones, Kyle Walker, Eberechi Eze, Jarrod Bowen

Such is the competitive nature of the current English football climate, there is a surfeit of extremely talented footballers who simply must do more in order to cement their places in Tuchel’s squad. Marcus Rashford and Eberechi Eze were both outstanding at the weekend, but while the Manchester United outcast is only just coming to form while on loan at Aston Villa, all eyes will be on whether he can continue that revival, while Eze is going to struggle for competition in a crowded attacking midfield unit.

Morgan Rogers will suffer from the same problems that Eze is dealing with. Dan Burn, meanwhile, hasn’t had enough international experience yet but – like Levi Colwill – will have a good chance of making it given their recent performances and how well they have established themselves as leaders at Newcastle United and Chelsea alike. Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones isn’t always a starter at club level, and that could well cost him if others in their position up their games.

Looking further ahead, Kyle Walker, approaching 35, will have to prove he can still keep pace with the younger talents like Trent Alexander-Arnold, who’s bound for Real Madrid, and Chelsea’s Reece James. James Trafford, the least experienced of the four goalkeepers, could still earn a call-up based on his solid form at Burnley.

The most contentious debate, however, revolves around Phil Foden. Without a goal or assist in his last 21 international caps, Tuchel may be forced to make the difficult decision to leave him out if his poor form persists, because big names don’t always equal big quality, and he will want to avoid the headaches that came with the golden generation with too many hands stirring the pot in the central spaces.

Outside Chance

Tino Livramento, Dominic Solanke, Morgan Gibbs-White, Aaron Ramsdale, Jarell Quansah

Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White received a late call-up by Tuchel just to be dropped from the squad and not play a single minute across the first two matches of the new era. In many ways, that sheds light on just how difficult it will be to budge the current lineup of attacking midfielders.

Dominic Solanke and Aaron Ramsdale felt like picks that were based on reputation rather than form. As such, they will face an uphill battle if they are to make the 2026 World Cup once their new boss realises they are currently not up to scratch. Jarell Quansah hardly starts for Liverpool, though perhaps the recent revelation of Alexander-Arnold moving to Real Madrid could see him get far more minutes to push for a more pertinent role in the England setup.

Tino Livramento, as good as he is, is competing against Kyle Walker, Reece James, and Trent Alexander-Arnold for a spot on the plane. Need we say more?

No Chance

Jordan Henderson

Tuchel made 55 phone calls during the process of his first England squad selection. A conversation with former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson was enough to convince the German that the now-Ajax veteran deserved a spot. At 34, Henderson has won it all and boasts leadership qualities that set him apart, making Tuchel’s reasoning understandable.

In reality, though, Henderson’s inclusion raises more questions than answers. He lacks the defensive attributes to be a reliable understudy to Rice, doesn’t offer the creativity of Palmer or Eze, and with Kane, Pickford, and Walker already established as dressing-room leaders, his presence feels redundant. Right now, finding a natural role for him in this squad seems like a puzzle without a solution.

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt (correct as of 25/03/2025)