Most England stars flew out to the USA on Monday as head coach Thomas Tuchel gets down to business with the Three Lions sole goal Stateside this summer being quite simple: Win the World Cup
The England boss has made his choices
The England boss has made his choices
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Thomas Tuchel is experienced enough to know his World Cup squad would create the ultimate pub debate.
England’s ins-and-outs for the 26 man squad for this summer’s tournament caused joy and heartbreak in equal measure. The vast majority reported up on Monday to either fly out or join the training camp in Florida with the ramifications still being felt of Tuchel’s shock selections.
Harry Maguire made his feelings clear after being cut from the squad list. “Disappointed and shocked” was how the Manchester United defender described it. Adam Wharton made his point on the pitch with a man-of-the-match display for Crystal Palace as they beat Rayo Vallecano to win the Europa Conference League. No-one saw Djed Spence coming.
At least there was no Gazza style bust-up. Paul Gascoigne famously smashed up Glenn Hoddle’s hotel room in La Manga after being axed from the squad ahead of France 98. But Tuchel is not exactly going to win many popularity contests especially after picking the likes of Dan Burn, Jordan Henderson and, to a lesser extent, John Stones.
Newcastle's giant 6ft 7in defender Burn has the height for set-pieces but him up against the pace of Spain star Lamine Yamal seems a bit of a mismatch. Henderson missed games through injury at Brentford this season while Stones barely got a kick at Manchester City. Which begs the question: why?
They can’t all be in because they are good tourists. This is the World Cup not a holiday camp even if Tuchel intends to give his players plenty of down time in Florida and is even inviting the WAGs to the pre-tournament training base.
Incredibly, they could be together for seven weeks with the pre-tournament base before the first 48 team World Cup which has an extra knock-out round. But the reality is that Tuchel privately thinks that, based on previous tournaments, campaigns and other nations, the maximum number of players used will be 21.
That leaves five players who, realistically, might not get a kick. They may be away for a total of seven weeks - including the pre-camp and potentially playing in the final on July 19 - and not get a look-in. While the five includes two back-up keepers in Dean Henderson and James Trafford, plus some may get a run out in the Florida friendlies with New Zealand and Costa Rica, you will get a lot of players kicking their heels.
England boss Thomas Tuchel has had to defend his choices
England boss Thomas Tuchel has had to defend his choices(Image: NEIL HALL/EPA/Shutterstock)
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England's Harry Kane prepares to board a plane at Birmingham Airport ahead of the team's departure to the United States
England's Harry Kane prepares to board a plane at Birmingham Airport ahead of the team's departure to the United States(Image: PA Wire)
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In Euro 2024, it was an open secret that former boss Gareth Southgate took a raft of new, younger players who he did not know so well and some did go a bit stir crazy. That balance has to be right. The concern ahead of Euro 2024 was Maguire’s fitness but also how would a seasoned campaigner of previous World Cups take being a substitute.
If you trace back to Maguire’s interview in March after he was recalled from the international wilderness for the friendlies against Japan and Uruguay, he was at pains to repeatedly stress he would happily be part of the World Cup squad if it was to play one minute or every minute of the tournament. This was a player with a message.
He did well against Uruguay but, afterwards, Tuchel was at pains to stress that Maguire was a long way down the pecking order. Anyone remotely following the England story would not have shared Maguire’s surprise at being left out.
This is not remotely suggesting that Maguire would have been a bad tourist or disruptive. Mind you, Tuchel was clear when he admitted he was “disappointed” that Maguire issued a public statement to say he was left out. Maybe that was point proven.
Harry Maguire was far from impressed at being left out of the World Cup squad
Harry Maguire was far from impressed at being left out of the World Cup squad(Image: Getty Images)
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But, for example, would Wharton have taken it well if he did not get a chance and did not even get changed for action at the World Cup? That can be tough.
These are the decisions which come into play. This is why Burn has got in. Because Tuchel sees him as a good influence, a good tourist and, yes, he could be handy at set-pieces.
Henderson drove himself to the Euros final in 2024. That is how committed he is. Tuchel loves that and likes the way he is a good influence and sounding board of experience for the likes of Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham.
Stones is an interesting one. His inclusion is a mix of his quality as, Tuchel calls him “a world class defender”, but also a good character too. This, after all, is the player who, up until the final day, had not made a single tackle in the Premier League all season.
Tuchel has tapped into previous managers and tried to ask what works and what does not. And one of the clearest messages the England boss got back was that it was all about harmony, togetherness and good tourists. Older players who are good influences who are happy to be part of the group rather than younger players who may get fed-up, bored and disruptive.
It is obvious really. But that magic number 21 really does have logic and reason behind it. The other five have to be happy just to be there.
Palace players will report up from Wednesday, Arsenal's contingent get an extra week while some players will go straight to Miami from holiday with the rest flying in from Birmingham on Monday morning.
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