Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the World Cup has thrown up plenty of talking points with most Three Lions supporters baffled by several selections.
The German appears to have placed huge faith in team harmony, making several pointed remarks about who he can “trust” in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The flip side is several talented players will spend the summer watching the tournament at home.
Here, we analyse the five big calls we think the German has got wrong.
Not taking Harry Maguire
It is tough to think what more Maguire could have done. He has been outstanding for Manchester United in recent months and played a pivotal role in guiding them from mid-table to a third-placed finish under Michael Carrick. His 66 caps include vital experience at major tournaments – the 33-year-old played at the World Cups in 2018 and 2022 and Euro 2020 – and performed well against Uruguay in March. Maguire is also a useful asset at the other end with his physicality making him a menace in opposing penalty boxes. England could have done with that Plan B option, particularly with Leeds wrecking-ball Dominic Calvert-Lewin also overlooked.
Just one specialist left-back
Perhaps the most staggering decision of all. Nico O’Reilly has earned his place in the squad and the Manchester City defender will most likely start the opening game against Croatia at left-back. But if he is injured or suspended England look woefully short of adequate cover. The three options would be Djed Spence, Tino Livramento, both of whom are right-backs, or Dan Burn. Spence is not first-choice for a woeful Spurs side, Livramento is rarely fit and struggled against top-class opposition in the Champions League for Newcastle while Burn should be nowhere near the squad. Seemingly chosen for his personality, the former Darlington and Wigan defender would be a frightening selection in the starting XI. His club team-mate Lewis Hall should have got the call after a brilliant season. Strong, quick and good on the ball, he has the ability to battle with O’Reilly for the left-back berth for the next decade.
The absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold
Alexander-Arnold divides opinion and it has been clear for some time that Tuchel did not fancy the Real Madrid star. That is a shame because not many England fans would put him behind the likes of Spence and Livramento. The former Liverpool man has an X-factor few others can match and it is often those fine margins that can decide big games in the knockout stages. Critics will point to occasional lapses in concentration defensively which is fair but are Livramento and Spence any better?
Jordan Henderson…
An absolute head-scratcher. Like Burn, Henderson gets a seat on the plane because he sets the tone in the dressing room. That appears a damning indictment on the coaching staff. Henderson has had a wonderful career and was once rightly one of the first names on the team sheet for his country. But that time has long since gone and the 35-year-old – he turns 36 on June 17, the same day England play Croatia – should not have been selected over the vastly superior Adam Wharton. If Tuchel wanted Henderson there, make him part of the coaching staff.
Three number nines
The decision to take Ivan Toney AND Ollie Watkins as back up for Harry Kane is another mystery, especially after selecting just one specialist left-back. Toney left the Premier League to earn an exorbitant salary in Saudi Arabia and has done well, scoring 32 goals this season for Al-Ahli. Even putting morale arguments to one side, should a player performing in a league several levels below the Premier League be considered? Watkins was the sensible choice after a strong end to the season for Aston Villa and his ability to come off the bench and impact games was evident in Euro 2024. Watkins and Kane would have been sufficient with Marcus Rashford acting as Plan C.
