England World Cup squad: 26 questions about Thomas Tuchel's selections for the tournament

Thomas Tuchel has named his 26-player England squad for the World Cup, with some big calls made by the Three Lions boss.

Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Maguire are the eye-catching names to have missed out on selection after Tuchel confirmed his 26-man squad for this summer's tournament in North America.

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In-form Nottingham Forest forward Morgan Gibbs-White, Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, Newcastle defender Lewis Hall, Man Utd's Luke Shaw and West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen are other notable absentees as Tuchel made an eye-catching first tournament selection.

The surprise name included is Ivan Toney, who has played just seven minutes of international football since Euro 2024.

With lots of big decisions made, we've picked out the 26 big questions about Tuchel's 26...

1. Why select Ivan Toney?

Toney's call-up was a shock. But it's also a pick that makes sense in many ways.

Whatever caveats you want to put on the quality of the Saudi Pro League, Toney has scored 32 goals in 32 appearances for Al Ahli, where he's won two league titles. So he has form, he's played in a hot, draining climate which will have parallels with North America this summer. He also takes excellent penalties.

2. How do we judge the Saudi Pro League?

There are pros and cons of taking the Saudi Pro League's top scorer. Yes, it's not an elite league. But N'Golo Kante and Aymeric Laporte starred for France and Spain respectively at Euro 2024 while playing in Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi league also starts in January. Toney has less mileage in the tank - so could be fresher compared to Europe's stars, who are at the end of the season.

3. Has Tuchel taken a risk with his full-backs?

Yes. There is a huge gamble with the selection of full-backs in this mix. Carry on reading and the detailed reasons why will become apparent lower down, but, to put it succinctly, there are major question marks over their collective fitness. Reece James, Tino Livramento and Djed Spence are all unreliable. Quality yes, available no.

Jarell Quansah can fill in at full-back. But defensively is where England look most vulnerable, especially the right side. And that begs the enduring question: Why not Trent?

4. Have Harry Maguire and family handled this in the right way?

Harry Maguire is entitled to feel 'shocked and gutted', given his England experience and what he has contributed over the years. He will naturally feel the decision is harsh and that he could have 'played a major part' this summer.

But going public before Tuchel had officially announced the squad was probably not the right move. His brother Joe, calling it 'possibly the worst decision' he had ever seen, also added extra attention to the situation when the focus should have remained on the manager's announcement and the players selected.

5. Can we trust Reece James' fitness?

It's unlikely Reece James would start every game if England make it deep into the World Cup. He last started four games in a row in April 2023.

But this is why Tuchel has a squad - Tino Livramento, Ezri Konsa and Djed Spence can all fill in when James needs a rest. James is the best English right-back and won the Champions League under Tuchel - his inclusion as a starter was always guaranteed.

6. What would Gareth Southgate make of it all?

There are big comparisons between Gareth Southgate's final England squad at Euro 2024, and this first Tuchel one. Two years ago, Southgate went for the popular picks, moving away from out-of-form players such as James Maddison and Jack Grealish and instead picking the popular Toney and Adam Wharton. This Tuchel side has seen way more cult heroes and flair players left at home.

7. Is there a left-back issue?

Left-back should not be a problem position with Nico O'Reilly in the squad. He might be young, with virtually no England experience, but he's been trusted by Pep Guardiola in that role all season. And he's a natural left-footer.

Eight Premier League goal involvements from full-back is a solid return and he's proved across this breakthrough campaign that he will show up for Man City in big occasions. Such fearlessness is a great asset. England need more of it. Time for the next generation to make a proper name for themselves.

8. Why are there barely any Chelsea players?

This is a fairly easy one - Chelsea haven't been very good this season. James deserves his place but Cole Palmer's form and fitness have been inconsistent. A summer off will do him good after playing almost non-stop for two seasons due to the Club World Cup.

Levi Colwill probably would have been in the 26 had he not missed almost the whole season with injury. Trevoh Chalobah might have fancied his chances of sneaking into the squad having played for Tuchel for club and country, but his performances have been shaky. Liam Delap, Tosin Adarabioyo and Jamie Gittens never had a sniff of the squad.

9. Where is Morgan Gibbs-White?

It's a huge call from Tuchel, Gibbs-White is one of the most in-form players in the Premier League and has been nominated for Player of the Year. No player has scored more goals since Christmas. If Ollie Watkins has been reinstated on form, why hasn't Gibbs-White stayed?

10. Is John Stones lucky to be on the plane?

John Stones is Mr dependable - but only when fit. His return of 361 minutes in the Premier League tells you that he's not met that criteria for much of this season. Since December he's completed 90 minutes twice. Picking him over Maguire is a risk.

No doubt Stones is a technically better centre-back than Maguire but a lack of match sharpness is an issue. Still, he's a leader with plenty of major tournament experience and might be useful to shore things up late on in tight games.

11. When will the Arsenal players link up?

The England squad is set to leave for North America on June 1. The only problem is Arsenal play in the Champions League final two days before. Tuchel will look to give Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke a period of rest, while they should be available for England's second World Cup warm-up match against Costa Rica on June 10.

12. What is the best XI to be left out?

It's a pretty good side...

13. And does that team beat England's best XI?

It's not a bad team, with plenty of flair players in there. But with the world's best No 9 in Harry Kane - and two top wide players in Saka and Anthony Gordon who tend to deliver in an England shirt, there are more goals in the best XI Tuchel could pick.

14. What has Trent done wrong?

Surely the biggest omission of this squad is Trent Alexander-Arnold, despite only making one appearance under Tuchel.

Can play at full-back or in midfield, can do things with the ball most others in this selection cannot. His on-off relationship with international football continues to baffle considering the talent and versatility. Not forgetting he takes a decent penalty too. And it's not like Tuchel is flush with reliable right-back options...

15. Can Djed Spence even play?

Spence has been called up by England despite breaking his jaw in Spurs' game over Chelsea. Spence is fine to play for Spurs against Everton on Sunday using a protective mask. But he needs to do some more tests before linking up with England? Is he even safe to fly to America with a broken jaw?

16. What is Jordan Henderson's role in the squad?

With key figures from Gareth Southgate's old guard absent this summer - Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker and now Harry Maguire - Tuchel clearly values the experience Jordan Henderson carries.

Expect him to get minutes too. He captained England from the start against Uruguay and has played in every international window during Tuchel's reign.

But there will doubts too. Remember Roy Keane's verdict in 2021? "They want Jordan Henderson round the place, for what? Does he do card tricks, does he have a sing song, does he do quizzes in the evening? What is he there for?"

17. Has Quansah been good in Germany?

For Tuchel, it is all about the profile of the player. Quansah, aged 23, is tall. He's fast. "Strong in the build-up, he is strong in the air," noted the England boss.

The U21 Euros winner has 28 appearances in the Bundesliga and 11 in the Champions League for Bayer Leverkusen this season, playing on the right side of their back three in big matches.

18. Why is Dan Burn there?

Burn has been a staple in the Tuchel England era, having been given his debut in the German's first match in charge. The main reason? Set pieces.

'Big Dan Burn' as he tends to be known as, will be a dominant force in both penalty boxes. And if it is the World Cup of set plays, then the Newcastle man could be useful.

19. How good has Marcus Rashford been?

A player rejuvenated by Barcelona this year; 15 goal involvements in 17 LaLiga starts. He's scored some special ones in big games too. Not sure he will be trusted to start but it's always good to have a game-changer with goal threat in the ranks.

Another who is capable from dead-ball situations, too, to add a different dimension to Tuchel's options if or when chasing games. Deserves his place.

20. Why were there so many leaks?

A leaky ship sinks. England were to set sail to the Americas with a new vessel. One could say the leaks are the result of an unhappy crew, and the players not involved want that known.

"I've never known an England squad announcement for a tournament to be as chaotic as this," reflected Sky Sports' Rob Dorsett. "So may leaks, the most leaked England squad ever before a major tournament, the most chaotic buildup to what The FA thought would be an all-singing and all-dancing affair."

However, players who don't make squads are naturally going to be unhappy. Disappointment turned into frustration and Harry Maguire's social media statement, before a raft of leaks, reflects that. There may even be some in the camp who feel the big omissions merited a place over some of their squad colleagues.

21. Why have England left their technically best players behind?

Palmer has been blunted by injuries this term, a shadow of the player he was previously. In an area of the pitch where Tuchel has so many options, form mattered. And Palmer doesn't have it right now.

For Foden, his best moments feel even further away. His skillset is obvious and Tuchel has tried him in almost every possible position - including as a false No 9 - to try to unlock his ability on the international stage. It hasn't worked.

22. How many of these players actually matter?

Every player has a role to play off the pitch. If all goes to plan at the tournament, they will be together for well over a month. Squad harmony matters. But the reality is that some of the names debated will not play. England only used 20 of their 26 players at the last World Cup. The average number of players used by teams at World Cups is 18.

23. What is Jason Steele's role?

The Brighton No 2 is expected to join the group as an extra training goalkeeper. But Seagulls goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen articulated the importance of Steele's role away from the pitch in an interview with Sky Sports in 2024.

"I've learned a lot from him," he said. "He's a very, very good guy. He is always ready to answer my questions or help me if he sees something. Also, just by watching him in games and training, I've learned a lot and picked up on a lot of details." Tuchel is evidently keen to harness the same qualities.

24. Why three strikers?

The identity of Harry Kane's back-up has been a talking point ahead of the tournament. Tuchel has surprised everyone by naming two but they offer different qualities. Ollie Watkins' runs in behind can stretch opponents when needed. Toney can play the role of a targetman when England need to go direct. They give England options.

25. When was the last time an England tournament didn't have a Liverpool player?

Well, the answer is 1986 when Bobby Robson did not select any Liverpool players in his squad for that summer's tournament in Mexico, although in truth, that decision did not cause any raised eyebrows just like this one.

The options Tuchel had to pick from at Anfield were slim, to say the least, with Arne Slot's squad containing only three England internationals in Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott, who is on loan at Aston Villa.

26. Is it coming home?

Have your say...

What's next for England?

England will depart for the United States on Monday June 1, 16 days prior to their opening group encounter against Croatia (Wednesday June 17).

They will be based in Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Missouri during the tournament.

England have World Cup warm-up matches with New Zealand on June 6 (9pm UK time) and Costa Rica on June 10 (9pm UK time) before their tournament opener against Croatia.

England's World Cup Group L games

• England vs Croatia - Wednesday June 17, Dallas, 9pm (UK time)
• England vs Ghana - Tuesday June 23, Boston, 9pm (UK time)
• Panama vs England - Saturday June 27, New York-New Jersey, 10pm (UK time)

World Cup key dates

• Group stage: June 11-27
• Round of 32: June 28 to July 3
• Round of 16: July 4-7
• Quarter-finals: July 9-11
• Semi-finals: July 14-15
• Third-place play-off ('Bronze final'): July 18
• Final: July 19

(c) Sky Sports 2026: England World Cup squad: 26 questions about Thomas Tuchel's selections for the tournament