Thomas Tuchel has made some bold selection calls for his England squad, but questions remain about his starting XI for the World Cup opener against Croatia on June 17 at the Dallas Stadium. The England team will travel to the United States for friendlies against New Zealand and Costa Rica to prepare for the tournament.
Notable absentees from Tuchel's 26-man squad include Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Harry Maguire. Fans were surprised by the German's decisions, but he insisted he chose with the team's best interests at heart. "Teams win championships, it is as simple as that," Tuchel said. "What we are trying to achieve in the summer can only be achieved as a team."
Now that the squad is set, here is the ideal starting XI Tuchel would likely field against Croatia.
Goalkeeper
Jordan Pickford remains the clear first choice. The Everton shot-stopper has 82 caps and kept 11 clean sheets for his club this season. James Trafford is the long-term heir but is unlikely to unseat Pickford, while Dean Henderson remains backup.
Defence
Tuchel will hope for quick recoveries in defence. Nico O'Reilly has had a breakout season for Manchester City, scoring nine goals and assisting six times from 53 appearances. The 21-year-old is an excellent choice at left-back, offset by John Stones at centre-half. Stones has 87 caps and three goals for England, but fitness is a concern after recent injuries. Marc Guehi, who joined City in January, is the likely partner for Stones. The 25-year-old has won three trophies in the last year. Reece James completes the back four, provided his hamstring and hip issues clear up. The Chelsea captain came off the bench against Sunderland, boosting his hopes.
Midfield
Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson form the midfield duo. Rice, a Premier League champion with Arsenal, has five goals and 11 assists this season. Anderson has shone for Nottingham Forest, earning a £100 million price tag with his performances.
Attack
Marcus Rashford earned his spot after a renaissance at Barcelona, with 28 goal contributions and two trophies. Bukayo Saka, who helped Arsenal win the Premier League, will flank Harry Kane. Morgan Rogers may lock up the No. 10 role after helping Aston Villa win their first major trophy in 30 years, edging out Jude Bellingham. Kane, England's all-time top scorer with 78 goals in 112 appearances, leads the line after a domestic treble with Bayern Munich.
