Tuchel has a headache choosing the England squad before the World Cup
England finished the qualifiers with eight wins, 22 goals and zero conceded; Tuchel had to settle for number 10, a backup for Kane and the left-back position.
England completed their World Cup qualifying campaign with a win over Albania, capping off a perfect campaign under Thomas Tuchel: eight wins from eight, scoring 22 goals and conceding none. Going into the final squad phase, Tuchel faces three big decisions: the race for the No. 10 spot between Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers, a backup for Harry Kane, and a solution in defence – particularly at left-back.
| Qualifying index | Value |
|---|---|
| Battle | 8 wins |
| Goal | 22 |
| Conceded goal | 0 |
Race 10: Bellingham or Rogers?
This has been the biggest talking point in Tuchel’s World Cup preparations. Morgan Rogers – who has started all 10 games under the German – has made the most of Jude Bellingham’s time off following shoulder surgery. Rogers has played 531 minutes so far, compared to Bellingham’s 374.
Bellingham returned after 25 minutes against Serbia and started against Albania and played well. However, the midfielder was booked for a foul after losing possession and was unhappy when substituted – a matter Tuchel said would be looked into. However, Bellingham’s reputation for being a top player was evident off the pitch: Albania’s Kristjan Asllani asked to swap shirts at half-time.
Tuchel maintains healthy competition and does not follow the “star principle”. Rogers has improved rapidly, while Bellingham has proven his ability to make a difference on the big stage. The experience advantage could give Bellingham the upper hand when Tuchel finalizes his squad for the World Cup opener.
| Player | Minutes played under Tuchel |
|---|---|
| Morgan Rogers | 531 |
| Jude Bellingham | 374 |
Kane is irreplaceable – but who is the backup?
Harry Kane closed out the qualifiers with a brace against Albania, scoring while also playing and dropping back to support when needed. The quality gap between Kane and the rest is Tuchel's biggest concern.
Danny Welbeck was considered “very close” to a call-up, but Tuchel said he knew what the player brought so there was no need to call him up in November. Ollie Watkins was used, while Ivan Toney – called up from Saudi Arabia – played just two minutes in the friendly against Senegal, a decision that remains puzzling to this day.
Some makeshift options include Marcus Rashford or Anthony Gordon as centre-forwards, and Phil Foden could be pushed forward with tactical adjustments. However, in reality, no one comes close to Kane's level.
The problem of defense and left-back position is left open.
Against Albania, John Stones showed his versatility: starting as a centre-back but often moving forward to play as a midfielder when the team has the ball. If England use a back four system at the World Cup, Tuchel will have to choose two centre-backs from the trio of John Stones, Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi. Stones has the advantage of experience, while Konsa and Guehi have both improved despite missing the last match.
Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen) impressed in his first start, able to play as a centre-back or full-back. On the left wing, the race is open. Three young faces Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Djed Spence (Tottenham) and Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City) were all given the opportunity to debut; O'Reilly started the last two matches and made a strong impression.
Tino Livramento (Newcastle) – injured – remains the top candidate. Lewis-Skelly has been left out due to lack of playing time this season, and O'Reilly may be ahead of Spence. In short, the left-back is still open.
Left wing and Rashford's press
Bukayo Saka is almost certain to get the right-back slot. On the left, Marcus Rashford scored a powerful cross for Kane to score twice against Albania. Competition includes the energetic and versatile Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke (Arsenal), who is highly rated by Tuchel but is injured.
Jack Grealish has been good for Everton but hasn't been called up since 2024. Eberechi Eze can play on the left wing or as a No. 10, but hasn't yet overtaken Bellingham and Rogers for the central role. If Rashford wants to shape Tuchel's options, his assist against Albania was a step in the right direction.
Next stop
Tuchel completed the first phase of a flawless qualifying campaign. But decisions on the No. 10, Kane’s backup and the structure of the defence will shape the journey to the 2026 World Cup – where England will aim to end a 60-year wait for a major trophy.
