- Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Harry Maguire are set to miss out on England’s 2026 World Cup squad
- Thomas Tuchel’s “two-per-position” blueprint: clear roles at No 6, No 8 and No 10
- England cruised UEFA qualifying but stuttered in March—final choices now razor-sharp
Thomas Tuchel will name his 26 on Friday morning and, make no mistake, he’s swinging the axe. Foden, Palmer and Maguire—all big-game names—are not on the plane. England may have sashayed through UEFA Group K with eight wins and zero conceded, but limp friendlies against Uruguay and Japan reminded everyone there’s no room for passengers. If you’re scanning the odds on the best football betting sites, Tuchel’s choices are already shifting markets.
Who’s On The Plane
Jordan Pickford remains the undisputed No 1, with Dean Henderson backing up. At right-back, Tuchel’s favourite Reece James is locked in. On the left, Nico O’Reilly has stormed into contention after a stellar season and that Carabao Cup final brace. In the middle, fitness permitting, it’s John Stones, Marc Guehi and the ever-reliable Ezri Konsa.
In midfield, Tuchel’s structure is crystal: Elliot Anderson leads as the No 6, freeing Declan Rice to rampage as the No 8, with Jordan Henderson as experienced cover. Kobbie Mainoo joins the cast. As a No 10, Jude Bellingham is back—despite some reported tension—while Morgan Rogers has impressed as another creative option.
Out wide, Bukayo Saka is the likely starter on the right with Noni Madueke in reserve. On the left, Anthony Gordon has genuine momentum, and Marcus Rashford offers valuable versatility across the front line. Up top, Harry Kane is in frightening club form, with Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney completing a robust centre-forward trio. It’s a coherent, role-driven squad—pace on the flanks, power in midfield, and goals through the spine.
The Big Omissions And The Toss-Ups
Harry Maguire confirmed he’s out—“shocked and gutted”—a seismic call given his World Cup pedigree. Phil Foden misses out after a stuttering season and a flat turn as a false nine against Japan, while Cole Palmer suffers a similar fate amid ferocious competition for No 10 and wide berths. Also sidelined: Adam Wharton and Morgan Gibbs-White.
There are live battles everywhere: Aaron Ramsdale vs James Trafford for the third goalkeeper slot; a fitness race for Tino Livramento; fourth centre-back minutes between Dan Burn and Maguire; and full-back cover via Djed Spence. Fringe options include Jarell Quansah, Lewis Hall and Myles Lewis-Skelly. Creative wildcard Eberechi Eze is firmly in the mix, while Jarrod Bowen and Dominic Solanke keep pushing. Outside bets? Levi Colwill, the injured Ben White, James Garner, Luke Shaw, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dominic Calvert-Lewin all hover on the margins.
Predicted 26—As It Stands
Goalkeepers: Pickford, D Henderson, Trafford. Defenders: James, Livramento, Stones, Guehi, Konsa, Burn, Quansah, Lewis-Skelly, O’Reilly. Midfielders: Anderson, J Henderson, Rice, Mainoo. Forwards: Saka, Madueke, Eze, Bellingham, Rogers, Gordon, Rashford. Strikers: Kane, Watkins, Toney.
Bio:
Football fanatic, you will often find me on the terraces at lower league matches on a Saturday afternoon. I leave the Premier League matches to the prawn sandwich brigade; grassroots football for me all the way.
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As the lead copywriter, it’s my job to turn my colleagues’ “messy notes” (sorry, guys!) into clear, engaging content. From bookmaker reviews to betting predictions, I make sure everything is polished, accurate, and easy to read
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