Thomas Tuchel’s first national team selection eagerly anticipated

England’s new head coach, Thomas Tuchel, is set to announce his first squad on Friday morning as the Three Lions prepare for the start of World Cup qualifying. Tuchel, who began his 18-month contract in January, has spoken to over 55 players individually on the phone to “build connections” ahead of the squad announcement.

The squad will face Latvia and Albania on March 21 and 24, respectively, and Tuchel has a daunting task ahead of him with just seven international windows and roughly 450 days to prepare for the 2026 World Cup. England’s usual array of attacking talent is partly reduced due to injuries and poor form, with Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, and Jack Grealish struggling to find their footing.

Record goalscorer Harry Kane is a definite inclusion, but the supporting cast is uncertain. Anthony Gordon, Ollie Watkins, and Morgan Rogers are having good periods, while Aston Villa’s Marcus Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, could get a surprise recall. Tuchel’s formation is also up for debate, with the German tactician having used both the 4-2-3-1 formation and a variation of 3-4-2-1 in the past.

Left-back remains a dilemma for Tuchel, with in-form Newcastle defender Lewis Hall ruled out for the rest of the campaign with an injury. Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly, Palace defender Tyrick Mitchell, and Tottenham’s Djed Spence are all in contention. Meanwhile, Adam Wharton, who was included in the Euro 2024 squad but did not play a minute, could be the ‘number 6’ that England are craving.

Tuchel’s assistant, Anthony Barry, has been watching games individually, and the England boss has been at St George’s Park between two to three days a week, planning next week’s camp. The squad announcement will be closely watched, with fans eager to see how Tuchel will shape the team ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.

The squad announcement will be followed by a live stream of a Tuchel news conference, where the German tactician will face questions about his team selection and tactics. With the World Cup qualifiers just around the corner, Tuchel’s first squad announcement is eagerly anticipated, and fans will be watching closely to see how he plans to lead England to success.