Why Trafford's selection for England against Spain and Czechia hints at Thomas Tuchel's current long-term thoughts
He may conceded three but things are potentially looking up for James Trafford
He may conceded three goals but things are potentially looking up for James Trafford(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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That James Trafford started against the world champions says something about Thomas Tuchel’s mindset. The England boss is giving Trafford the first two games of this four-fixture break to see how far off Jordan Pickford he is.
If the Leeds United ace had put in a show-stopper - something always unlikely against such elite opposition - the boss might have been able to fast-track him ahead of Euro 2028.
The fact he did conceded three very good goals does not weaken or set back Trafford’s cause, despite this view emanating from some quarters of Merseyside. But true, Saturday does not progress it forwards either.
Trafford - set to start tonight against Czechia - was customarily very straight-forward about the strikes he conceded at Wembley : "I want to try and save every shot and I didn't and it's just the reality of playing against a top team.”
That Tuchel wants a closer look at Trafford after noting his good start for Leeds is not surprising - but that he is being given the first two games, and not the latter two, is.
To many a mind, if Pickford is still the long-term number one for Tuchel, then surely the most sensible way around would be to select the Everton goalkeeper to face the world champions and Czechia away, leaving Trafford to play against Croatia and Czechia at home.
This is not to say Trafford has usurped Pickford because of this being the other way around - the noises from the England camp state that there is currently no change in status. And perhaps Tuchel has already seen what Pickford can do against top-tier opposition, and there’s not much else to learn.
But given the manner of the World Cup semi-final defeat and that the Nations League still counts as a trophy, if by no means a major one, Tuchel’s reputation is on the line.
And falter at a home European Championships in 2028 and the scrutiny he faced this summer will pale in the face of the fall-out from that. Perhaps there is indeed one eye on the future.
Pickford will be 34 years old come the Euros. That is not over-the-hill in the lifespan of a goalkeeper, but it is hardly peak age either. In contrast, Trafford will be 25. That has to factor into the thinking.
James Trafford saves well from Ferran Torres' shot
James Trafford saves well from Ferran Torres' shot(Image: Jose Hernandez/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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But of course, there is no guarantee that Trafford will be Pickford’s successor, despite the current trajectory looking quite promising. Club form will be the determining factor.
Trafford is simply pleased to be playing regularly again after a year of frustration at Manchester City. Both Tuchel and the player himself have said his Leeds game time so far this season has led to his two starts for England.
Leeds fans will not be naive - they know that should Trafford’s progress outrun that of the club itself, he might not be at Elland Road for too long. But for the next two years? Almost certainly.
It is another feather in the cap of the board that they have helped Trafford towards his first senior competitive international starts, having already been able to boast about the revival of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The striker's late appearance on Saturday means he has now played twice for the Three Lions while a Leeds player. That only increases the appeal and profile of Leeds as an organisation.
While another poignant moment for him, it wasn’t the most memorable of nights for Calvert-Lewin; he only had one touch in his seven minutes on the pitch. And Trafford wasn’t perfect either.
It could be argued he hit the deck too quickly when trying to close down third Spanish goalscorer Mikel Oyarzabal and he did give away four passes, one of them at short-range. But he did make a very good stop when Ferran Torres went one-on-one in the first half before England went ahead.
And all three conceded goals had a heavy element of class about them, albeit Spain were also helped by some poor defending at times too. Trafford should not, and will not, be judged on one game. And probably not two either.
He is likely to put in a better showing against Czechia tonight by virtue of strength of opposition and it is important he delivers a sturdy showing. But this is just the beginning for Trafford.
Tuchel, clearly, has got his eye on him.