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On the plane

Jordan Pickford remains the undisputed No 1. Harry Kane is irreplaceable up front. Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson look certain to start in midfield, nobody has emerged as a realistic challenger to Bukayo Saka on the right and Jude Bellingham’s hopes of grabbing the No 10 spot were done a world of good by other challengers failing to impress against Japan and Uruguay.

It has been a messy, unstructured camp for Thomas Tuchel as he finalises his preparations for the World Cup. Marc Guéhi wore the captain’s armband during the defeat to Japan and is emerging as the senior centre-back. Elsewhere, though? There are more questions than answers. John Stones goes if he can prove his fitness but there can be no guarantees with the centre-back after his latest injury. Anthony Gordon and Marcus Rashford did not play well against Japan and Uruguay but lack rivals on the left wing. Jordan Henderson was poor against Uruguay but his leadership is prized by Tuchel as he looks to build a brotherhood. Dean Henderson looks like the No 2 goalkeeper. Morgan Rogers has credit in the bank after a strong end to 2025. But this is going to be a short section; the squad is not in a good place.

In the departure lounge

Ezri Konsa had a poor game against Japan but the centre-back has been solid under Tuchel. Reece James is out with a hamstring injury and is in a race to return in time for the World Cup but the Chelsea defender has not seen anyone step up as a realistic alternative at right-back. James Trafford will be confident of going as the No 3 goalkeeper. Missing this camp with a calf injury has probably been beneficial to Eberechi Eze, who offers unpredictability in attacking midfield. Noni Madueke is another Arsenal forward in Tuchel’s good books, although he is sweating on a knee injury.

Hoping for a ticket

This month’s auditions have mostly gone badly. Cole Palmer was lively against Uruguay but insipid against Japan and still looks short of sharpness. Phil Foden deputised as a false 9 with Kane missing but continues to look uncomfortable and may sneak in simply because the competition is not that strong. After all, Tuchel did not start the West Ham winger Jarrod Bowen in either friendly. Dominic Solanke was persistent but ineffective as a No 9 against Uruguay; Ollie Watkins was not in this squad but proved his worth as a Kane stand-in at Euro 2024. Danny Welbeck, meanwhile, has probably benefited from not being in this squad. The Brighton forward was unlucky not to be involved.

There is a lot of flux. Dan Burn seems to be in competition with Harry Maguire in central defence. Tuchel has said Maguire is behind several other centre-backs but he played well against Uruguay and was a threat at set pieces after coming on against Japan. Trevoh Chalobah offers more mobility but is injured.

The defensive situation is unconvincing. Nico O’Reilly has had a fine season but still has a lot to learn at left-back. It is hard to separate the full-backs. Lewis Hall was positive after coming on against Japan but the Newcastle left-back is not a starter yet. Jarell Quansah withdrew with injury but has been praised by Tuchel; Tino Livramento did not convince against Uruguay. Djed Spence can play on both flanks and offers raw speed. He is no Kyle Walker, though.

Is the depth there? Tuchel had a look at a lot of new faces. James Garner had an encouraging debut in midfield against Uruguay. Adam Wharton’s contribution was less enthusiastically received by his manager. As for a wild-card pick, that would be Arsenal’s 16-year-old attacker Max Dowman. It seems outlandish but Tuchel likes to be bold. Also keep an eye on Tottenham’s versatile, promising young midfielder Archie Gray. The Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott will also look to prove Tuchel was wrong to drop him.

On the sofa

Not tired with the Trent Alexander-Arnold debate yet? It is perverse that England can continue to overlook such a gifted footballer but here we are. Tuchel keeps overlooking the Real Madrid right-back – yes, that’s right: the Real Madrid right-back – and has picked others in front of him, including Ben White, who somehow ended up as Arsenal’s most committed England man by the end of the camp.

White’s inclusion was odd. He had not been in the squad since his early departure from the 2022 World Cup. He was booed by the crowd, scored a tap-in and conceded a clumsy penalty against Uruguay and struggled against Japan. He is not a regular for Arsenal and is not worth the fuss.

Another Arsenal player unlikely to go is Myles Lewis-Skelly, who will pay for a lack of games, while the Milan centre-back Fikayo Tomori did not do enough against Uruguay and was sent home early.

In goal, Aaron Ramsdale, Jason Steele and Nick Pope look reliant on injuries. Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite has had an injury-hit season and probably needs to target Euro 2028. Tuchel appears to have made his mind up on Dominic Calvert-Lewin after assessing the Leeds striker. Ivan Toney, the Al-Ahli forward, has not played for England since June.

Tuchel has cooled on the Milan midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Kobbie Mainoo may well have played himself out of contention with a pedestrian performance in midfield against Japan. The Newcastle winger Harvey Barnes has an outside chance but needs others to drop out. Mason Mount is a Tuchel favourite but his time has passed. The Chelsea striker Liam Delap has had a frustrating season and Jack Grealish is injured. Curtis Jones and Conor Gallagher have no chance in midfield.

Predicted squad

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford. Defenders: Marc Guéhi, Ezri Konsa, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Nico O’Reilly, Lewis Hall, Reece James, Jarell Quansah, Tino Livramento. Midfielders: Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, James Garner, Morgan Rogers. Forwards: Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Anthony Gordon, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, Marcus Rashford, Danny Welbeck.