With the England team locked in to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, coach Tuchel hinted that he will put the interests of the team first, which triggered speculation about his final 23-man squad. Several reporters from The Telegraph wrote articles to...
With the England team locked in to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, coach Tuchel hinted that he will put the interests of the team first, which triggered speculation about his final 23-man squad. Several reporters from The Telegraph wrote articles to express their views on this, predicting a group of big-name players who may miss the World Cup.
Among these predictions, Jordan Henderson is the player mentioned most often. Reporters generally believe that although Henderson's experience and locker room leadership are valued by Tuchel, he will be 36 years old during the World Cup and there are doubts about whether his competitive status can cope with high-intensity events. More importantly, giving up a promising young midfielder like Adam Walton in order to bring him was considered a "bizarre" decision.
Another frequently mentioned favorite is Foden. As talented as he was at Manchester City, the sad fact is that he rarely replicated the club's peak form in England. In addition, England is full of talents at the 10th position and on the wing. The rise of Cole Palmer, Eberechi Eze and Morgan Rogers has caused Foden's ranking in the national team to drop significantly, and he may become a victim of fierce competition for positions.
On the back line, Arnold and Kyle Walker are also on the verge of danger. Arnold failed to quickly establish himself after moving to Real Madrid. His weaknesses on the defensive end and his compatibility with England's tactical system persisted, which further marginalized him. Although the 35-year-old Walker is a meritorious veteran, his status has begun to decline. With Reese James being regarded as the first choice, his position is in jeopardy, and the number of national team appearances may stay at 96 games.
Rashford on the forward line also faces challenges. Although his form improved during his loan spell at Barcelona, the instability of his performance is a major concern. In the competition with Anthony Gordon, Grealish and others, he did not have a clear advantage. In addition, due to Maguire's age and decline in form, Loftus-Cheek has no advantage when compared with Bellingham, and they are also considered to be the favorites to lose.
