Despite mixed opinions on Gareth Southgate, he has managed to elevate England’s players, fans and staff to a position of authority once again. In his tenure he took the country to two finals in the European Championship, and a semi-final and a quarter final in the World Cup. He’s done whilst overseeing the re-development of a squad that is now young, hungry and fearless.

Now, as we approach England’s first major tournament without him, we have a look at the lay of land in front of them. The last time America hosted the World Cup England didn’t qualify, this time their aim is to cross the pond and return as glorious winners.

Manager

Thomas Tuchel. A proven winner at club level with eleven major trophies across three countries including the Champions League with Chelsea. The German is a standout coach in world football and is tasked with ending England’s sixty year wait for a major trophy.

Born 1973 in Krumbach, Germany. Tuchel’s playing career was drastically cut short due to a serious knee injury at the age of twenty-five. His journey through coaching and management has been well covered and has many similarities to that of Jurgen Klopp.

The playing style his teams adopt are often filled with intensity and aggression balanced with a defensive discipline. Tuchel has been flexible in his formations with England expected to adopt a 4-3-3, but don’t be surprised if in the latter stages of the competition he reverts to a three at the back.

For England fans, the hope is that his positivity will be infectious for the nation and the fact he doesn’t shy away from the expectation of winning can lead a different level of belief throughout the squad. In his first interview he says, “We are here to try everything to put the second star on our shirt and I want everyone to feel the belief once we start in January”.

There’s no doubt the appointment of Tuchel is a clear signal that now is the time for England to end this long wait for a trophy the nation craves. The last eight years since the 2018 semi final has been about building, growing and establishing this talent squad. Now is the time to turn potential into the real deal.

New Faces

As with any tournament there has been an emergence of new talent within the England squad since the European Championships two years ago. These players can give this team a much-needed lift going into this tournament. The benefit on the unknown with international football can be really useful and the fact the new players aren’t scarred from past failures brings good energy to the squad.

The first of the new faces to mention is Elliot Anderson. After being sold by Newcastle United for financial reasons, Anderson has been Nottingham Forest’s most consistent performer over the past two seasons. His combative yet elegant style has impressed Tuchel. Anderson has managed to establish himself as a guaranteed starter in midfield alongside Declan Rice and will add balance and protection that should allow Rice to thrive further forward.

This season hasn’t been all smooth sailing for him with Nottingham Forest sacking three managers this season in a desperate attempt to stay in the Premier League, which they did achieve. Anderson has managed to maintain a level of performance amongst the chaos to push himself into the England set up and will be hot property in the summer transfer window. He and England should hope that his future at club level is sorted before the World Cup begins.

Pace, power, physicality combined with quick feet, a football brain and fantastic left foot. Of course we’re talking about Nico O’Reilly. Pep Guardiola has integrated one of the city academy’s top midfield talents into one of the best squads in world football… at left back. He has shone this season, not only being defensively sound but contributing to a high level in attack, scoring huge goals including two in the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal and an equaliser in a 1-2 win at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid.

England have had issues in the left back area for several years, particularly due to Luke Shaw’s injury problems. This has resulted in having to play Trippier or even Ashley Young out of position and often having a lack of balance to the team. In football it’s so important to have a left footed left back, who can overlap or underlap their winger and help build up the play from the back. Having a right footed player limits a team’s capacity to play quick football, which is what we saw for large parts of the 2024 European Championships with England.

Now with O’Reilly, England have a hugely exciting talent in that position. He’s comfortable on the ball, he makes really intelligent runs off the ball and is a big presence in attacking and defending set pieces. Not only this but England will also be grateful that Manchester City snapped up the signing of Marc Guehi in the winter transfer window. For the last five months Guehi and O’Reilly have played side by side as they will likely do in the summer. This continuity can be important for a squad that is so diverse.

If Tuchel does decide to pick O’Reilly to start for England, don’t be surprised to see him grow into one the team’s most effective players.

Reasons For Optimism

It’s engrained in every English person that no matter previous losses, how long it’s been since a major trophy or the clear quality difference to other countries, once a tournament comes along it’s absolutely coming home.

This year, England have one of the top managers in the competition, one of the top three strikers and a blend of experienced and young talent in the squad to make a difference. It’s true that other nations such as France, Spain and perhaps Argentina have stronger starting elevens, but as a twenty-six-man squad, not many can compete. England will need to have luck on their side, a harmony in the dressing room and the unwavering belief that they can do it.

If Tuchel can find the right centre back partner for Guehi, discover a dominant midfield and have runners and skill to surround Harry Kane then England can beat any team at this tournament. England must play with an intensity and direct style of play, the more they allow games to drift then the more anxious the players and fans become.

Utilising set pieces could also become a factor. Arsenal have been totally dominant from corners and attacking free kicks this season and England have both of their corner takers in the squad, as well as Reece James, who can put the ball on a sixpence. Not only this, but attacking the corners will be the likes of Kane, O’Reilly, Guehi, Burn, Stones etc. In the 2018 World Cup, England were so effective from corners in their run to the semi-final.

England’s squad does have a noticeable lack of creativity on the ball this year. Unless Palmer is on the pitch the midfield looks very physical and quick as do their wingers. A counter attacking approach may just be the best way to goal this summer. If they can focus on being defensively resilient and then break with passes from Kane, releasing the likes of Bellingham/Rodgers, Saka and Gordan/Rashford, England will not only be effective but exciting too.

They shouldn’t be seen as favourites; how can they be?! But they must be supported by the whole nation with a belief that magic can happen in the land of opportunities in America.

Goalkeepers

Jordan Pickford

Dean Henderson

James Trafford

Defenders

Reece James

Djed Spence

Ezri Konsa

Marc Guehi

John Stones

Dan Burn

Jarell Quansah

Nico O’Reilly

Tino Livramento

Experienced Heads

The squad has been shaped nicely over the last few years, blending the young and exciting talents with a mix of older, experienced players to balance this squad. These players are the ones who on and off the pitch need to drive this squad forward and in the inevitable tough moments, carry this team through.

Harry Kane. The captain, leader, goalscorer.

It clear that if England are the win this year’s tournament, Harry Kane will need to have one of those iconic summers. He’s done it before, in 2018 he won the golden boot scoring six goals including both in the win against Tunisia, as well as against Colombia in the round of sixteen. Kane also scored crucial goals in England’s route to the final of the European Championships in 2021.

Since then, Kane has struggled to maintain his fitness and level in summer tournaments and the worry is he isn’t getting any younger. The difference now is Kane is flying high at Bayern Munich. Not only is he breaking records for goals in Germany, but he is also now a consistent champion and benefitting from Germany’s less intense schedule and winter break. Bayern’s dominance this season in the Bundesliga has also led to Kane having some matchdays to rest and recover, this can only be seen as a positive for England.

Jordan Pickford just never lets England down.

The Everton keeper has had an interesting club career up to now. Some may say he’s never kicked on to a level he could have and that’s no disrespect to Everton. But you would think England’s number one for the past eight years would be playing top level European football but that’s never materialised. Despite this, he’s become somewhat of a cult hero for England fans with huge performances in summer tournaments. No one will forget his saves in that 2018 World Cup and despite England losing, his personal performance in the Euro 2020 final penalty shootout was exemplary.

With four major tournaments under his belt, there’s no doubt his experience and character will be a huge benefit to this England squad. He’s an outgoing personality both on and off the pitch yet will relay a level of calm to what will be a relatively new England back line. With the emergence of some talented young English goalkeepers such as James Trafford, who knows how long Pickford will hold his number one spot for the team, for the time being let’s enjoy his presence at the back.

Jude Bellingham will dictate the tone around the country this summer.

It may be slightly odd picking a twenty-two-year-old as one the experienced heads in the squad. However, this will be Bellingham’s third major tournament with England. At club level he has already won a Champions League and has now spent three full seasons at arguably the biggest club in the world in Real Madrid.

His career path has been noticeably different to the norm with English players in that he’s never played in the Premier League and that’s been by design. On a club level, he is kept away from the constant noise and pressure of the English media which has in the past has proved a problem for players such as Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling. But once a World Cup comes around that noise starts to increase. This season hasn’t been one to remember at Real Madrid, with manager sackings, dressing room bust ups and huge ego’s seemingly running the club. This has clearly affected Bellingham with a noticeable drop off in performances which could be linked to fitness issues too. Many thought the addition of friend, Trent Alexander-Arnold would help yet both have had plenty of injury and performance issues this season.

From an England perspective it hasn’t been plane sailing either. Tuchel decided to drop Bellingham from the England squad in October, due to what was described as a lack of rhythm. However, more seemed to be behind the exclusion from the squad with the classic media in England making a mountain out of a mole hill. Suddenly, his attitude and disruption to the squad made headline news, all of which had no substance.

In the last European Championships, England owe their run to the final to Bellingham. If not for his willingness to win, drive and determination from midfield and out of this world talent, England would have crashed out of the tournament in the Round of 16 to Slovakia. His overhead kick was iconic and a demonstration of not only his ability but how he can lead a nation on his shoulders, if only he’d be allowed to express himself.

Bellingham and England could be a unity that provides a legacy of unimaginable success or lead to a sour ending.

Form Issues

So far, we’ve spoken very optimistically about England this summer, and whilst we want to remain as positive as possible there is a slight concern regarding the form of some of England’s starting players. We’ve already mentioned Jude Bellingham’s struggles to keep fit and impact Real Madrid this season. However, there is also a slight concern on the output of England’s other forwards. Of course, Harry Kane is the exception here after a more than stellar season at Bayern, but let’s look at the squads’ other options.

Ollie Watkins has improved his output as the season has progressed scoring a total of nineteen goals in all competitions, although he will likely be on the bench and limited to reduced minutes due to Harry Kane. England’s star forward over the past few seasons has been Bukayo Saka, this season has been historic for him and Declan Rice winning their first Premier League title and reaching the Champions League final. This success will elevate their confidence and reassure them they belong on the biggest stages; however, Saka has struggled with injuries and form at times this year. Seven goals and five assists in thirty-one Premier League games is below average, and in the last two seasons since the European Championships he has only scored thirteen goals in the league. In comparison, in the season leading up to the Euro’s he scored sixteen goals alone. Declan Rice has had a strong season in midfield and will be important in helping England remain solid and drive up the pitch, but as one of England’s advanced midfielders, he’ll need to contribute in the final third despite that not being his natural strengths.

England’s left-hand side is still a mystery. Morgan Rodgers has had a magnificent season with Aston Villa, achieving a top five finish and winning the Europa League! He’s also contributed thirteen goals and eleven assists this season but has played predominantly centrally with Watkins. Tuchel has also used Rodgers as an advanced midfielder and the concern would be moving him to the left will restrict his impact, just like we saw two years ago with Phil Foden.

Another option would be Anthony Gordan. His season has been up and down, part of a Newcastle team that has really struggled in the league. His form in the Premier League and Champions League couldn’t be more contrast, scoring only six goals in twenty-six appearances in the league, yet hitting ten in twelve in the Champions League. Another issue with Gordan is that Eddie Howe has played him through the middle for the second half of this season, opting for Harvey Barnes on the left. In the run up to this tournament, Gordan has had an injury which has also timed with him being linked to a big move to Bayern Munich. His lack of game time is a concern.

The last option to discuss is of course Marcus Rashford. His talent and ceiling are by far the highest of all options to play on the left and will be confident having played a part in Barcelona winning the Spanish La Liga. The experience over in Spain will have given Rashford a wider view of football and expand his skillset. He’s had an okay season, scoring thirteen goals and assisting ten times in all competitions. However, lets compare that to his fellow teammates in Barcelona. Lamine Yamal has scored twenty-two goals in an injury hit season, Raphinha and Ferran Torres both have twenty goals.

Tuchel needs to find a way of getting his forward players around Kane confident and in form.

Midfielders

Elliot Anderson

Declan Rice

Jude Bellingham

Morgan Rodgers

Kobbie Mainoo

Jordan Henderson

Eberechi Eze

Attackers

Harry Kane

Bukayo Saka

Anthony Gordan

Marcus Rashford

Noni Madueke

Ollie Watkins

Ivan Toney