Declan Rice, Harry Kane & Bukayo Sakaplaceholder image
Declan Rice, Harry Kane & Bukayo Saka | Getty Images
England may field a much-changed side in their March international friendly against Uruguay on Friday evening.
England continue their preparations for the 2026 World Cup with a friendly match against Uruguay at Wembley on Friday evening – but Thomas Tuchel’s squad will have an unfamiliar feel when they take to the field.
The Three Lions head coach has confirmed that 11 core players from his expanded 35-man squad will be given an extended period of rest, and won’t be involved against Uruguay – including captain Harry Kane and Arsenal stars Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice.
Injuries have also whittled down Tuchel’s options as he looks to give fringe players an audition – so with kick-off fast approaching, we’ve collected all the latest news on who will be in the England side on Friday evening, and who will miss out, and offered our prediction for Tuchel’s starting line-up.
Kane, Saka & Rice among 11 players unavailable for England
Thomas Tuchel told the press last weekend that 11 regular members of his squad would be given extra rest during a busy season, and would join the camp after the match against Uruguay – with “nine or 10” of those involved on Friday leaving to create space.
"These guys have played 3,500 minutes, some 4,000 minutes,” Tuchel explained. “More important than the pure number of minutes is some of these guys have played more minutes than the whole of last season.
"All of these players have contributed in September, October and November. They have credit with me. To give them a break mentally and physically, we will benefit from it."
The 11 players who won’t be involved against Uruguay are: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice (both Arsenal), Ezri Konsa, Morgan Rogers (both Aston Villa), Marc Guéhi, Nico O’Reilly (both Manchester City), Dan Burn, Anthony Gordon (both Newcastle United), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace) and Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest).
Eze & Quansah injured ahead of Uruguay match
Two players who won’t get the chance to audition for a place in this summer’s tournament are Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze and Bayer Leverkusen’s Jarell Quansah, who withdrew from the squad due to injury.
Eze is expected to miss four to six weeks due to a calf injury sustained in the Champions League win over Quansah’s Leverkusen side, while the former Liverpool defender sustained a thigh issue in a recent match against Heidenheim. He is expected to return to full training shortly after the international break. Harvey Barnes and Ben White, returning to the squad for the first time since the last World Cup, were called up in their places.
Another player in the extended squad who won’t get the chance to play is Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Jason Steele. The 35-year-old, who cancelled a planned holiday after being called up, is with the squad as a training player and isn’t expected to be involved in either of England’s matches against Uruguay or Japan.
The omissions of several players, many of them regular starters for Tuchel, will provide opportunities for a number of players to stake their claims for a place in the World Cup squad. Lewis Hall, recalled for the first time since 2024, is likely to get an opportunity at left-back, while Adam Wharton and Kobbie Mainoo may get chances in midfield although Jordan Henderson seems likely to start against Uruguay. With a more familiar side likely to play against Japan, Jude Bellingham may also start on the bench on Friday evening.
England predicted starting XI vs. Uruguay: Pickford; Hall, Stones, Maguire, Livramento; Wharton, Henderson; Rashford, Palmer, Bowen; Solanke.
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