Thomas Tuchel has revealed his inaugural England squad, and it has undoubtedly sparked conversations. We possess 16 Conclusions regarding the ridiculousness of the situation.
The positive aspect is we can be angry at England teams again rather than merely counting the number of full-backs. The earth is recovering.
The third-best team in the Premier League has been overlooked, and so has the explanation for why Jordan Henderson's international career seemed to be finished. There's a tremendous amount to work with.
1. The inclusion of Jordan Henderson came as a surprise to us, to say the least. The response from mainstream media – or the noticeable absence of it – is rather puzzling as well.
At this moment, let’s concentrate solely on football and nothing else. Henderson truly embodies a significant figure at Ajax; he occasionally takes the field for them as well. In the last eight games, he has played for a total of 158 minutes – which is 21.94% of the duration. That’s hardly sufficient for a player at Manchester City, much less for a team outside the top five European leagues, with all due respect.
Tuchel has attempted to claim that Henderson “has participated in numerous matches” when the reality shows he has actually not played many matches. The coach shared much more regarding the Ajax midfielder, and we will discuss it in due time.
The England squad offers many excellent midfield choices, and while we aren’t urging Tuchel to select solely players from Our League, Henderson isn’t performing at an adequate standard. Anyone who supposedly merits a spot in the team should differentiate themselves at that level, which he is certainly not achieving. He is not only past his prime but also recently received a suspension for telling a referee to f**k off and wanted to do similar to a Dutch journalist who doubted his loyalty to Ajax after he declined to captain them in the Europa League to push for a transfer to AS Monaco.
It doesn’t appear to be the kind of experience England should center on.
2. Nottingham Forest sits in third place in the Premier League and is close to securing an incredible Champions League spot. They have three English players who begin each week. One might represent Scotland and needs to be secured quickly, another previously played for Tuchel at Chelsea, and the last appears to have made a name for himself after being included in two of Lee Carsley’s teams last year.
None are included in the team for this month’s World Cup qualifiers against Latvia and Albania at home, much to our surprise.
Callum Hudson-Odoi is the most justifiable exclusion, yet netting three goals in his previous five Premier League games, with one being a decisive score against current titleholders Manchester City, seems quite notable. Of course, we can move past it. Some believe he deserves it more than Marcus Rashford, but we are not entirely convinced.
Morgan Gibbs-White has been involved in 11 goals across 24 league matches this season, with ten occurring in his last 14 outings. There is a case for him being the most in-form English player globally, all while leading the third-best team in the nation. He was considered a sure thing, and after being summoned by Carsley on two occasions, we assumed he had become a regular for the Three Lions. Evidently, he needs to do more. Sad fellow.
And unfortunate Elliot Anderson. If you're keen on it, mate, you can always play for Scotland instead. As the wise Joe Willock once stated, we will greet you with open arms. (Indeed, a Scot is making 16 Conclusions on an England team announced by a German).
Securing Anderson – one of the season's key Premier League signings – for England seemed essential, but Tuchel and the Football Association apparently don't see it that way. They ought to be. Have we noted that he is among the three English players excelling for the squad now ranked third in the Premier League?
3. The inclusion of Kyle Walker is definitely debatable. He made the tough yet right decision to depart from Manchester City in January, signing with AC Milan on loan, with the move expected to be made permanent in the summer. He has only begun four Serie A matches and has performed quite well, especially against Empoli. Tuchel was present in the stands during the Milan derby against Inter, where he likely observed the play of squad absentee Fikayo Tomori.
Walker’s bravery in traveling to Italy to maintain his place and ultimately achieve 100 caps has secured him a place in Tuchel’s first England squad. Aaron Wan-Bissaka has excelled for West Ham, and after Kieran Trippier retired, Walker's poor performance last year, and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s injury, we believed it would finally be his opportunity. If it isn’t occurring now, it won’t ever occur.
One must question whether something has transpired between Wan-Bissaka and the FA at this point. Has he instructed them to go away? Maybe. Are we merely speculating here? Totally. Do you recall when he updated one of his social media bios to feature a DR Congo flag? The boy has executed a subtle Benjamin White.
Djed Spence of Tottenham is another who should feel unfairly treated, particularly after demonstrating significant versatility in a Spurs defense plagued by injuries.
4. Tuchel has observed sufficiently from the sidelines and his suite to conclude that Rashford merits a re-insertion, and it’s difficult to argue otherwise from a comparable perspective. His performance on loan at Aston Villa has caused Ruben Amorim to appear somewhat foolish for sidelining the Manchester United academy graduate, and an England cap this month will only add to his embarrassment; however, he won’t mind or feel any remorse.
It was a timeless maneuver. Amorim entered and liked the authoritarian approach that had been effective for Erik ten Hag with Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho, making sure every player understood I’m The Boss.
It has immediately improved Rashford’s career. He is rejuvenated at Villa, competing in Champions League matches, setting up goals, being a constant headache for defenders, and most importantly, playing with joy.
“I strongly felt that we ought to nominate him, bring him in, and encourage him to maintain that level and not revert to old habits.” "This camp aims to motivate him to maintain this standard," were the intriguing remarks Tuchel made regarding Rashford during Friday's press conference.
A rejection from England could have thrown him off course once more, essentially.
5. Every midfielder is more worthy of a spot than ex-Liverpool captain Henderson, but we express special sympathy for Gibbs-White, Anderson, Conor Gallagher, Lewis Cook, and Adam Wharton.
We teased him during Euro 2024, but Gallagher’s exclusion seems quite strange. Eredivisie > La Liga verified? With Wharton, they are likely overseeing his recent injury, although he is part of Carsley’s U21 team.
Cook is an excellent player to feel all proud and superior about. Bournemouth, similar to Forest, are surpassing expectations, and he has been their most reliable player, performing exceptionally well as a right-back. The upper mid-table group tends to be ignored, and the fact that it has acquired Henderson makes it even more frustrating.
6. Isn’t it nice that Dan Burn is included? He has not yet played for England at any level, including Under-16, Under-21, or the senior team, but he could become the oldest Three Lions debutant since 33-year-old Kevin Davies in 2010 if he participates in matches against Albania or Latvia.
Burn is included because he has been one of Newcastle's top and most reliable performers in 2024/25, primarily operating as a centre-back in a four-man defense after becoming a fan favorite at left-back. He might be a choice for Tuchel at left wing-back if the formation that secured Chelsea the Champions League in 2021 is what he favors. To be completely truthful, it's really just a matter of waiting and observing in that aspect.
We have been pondering one question: why is it happening now? In what has been a generally respectable season, Burn is experiencing a tough stretch of performance, is 32 years old, and is evidently not likely to be a consistent starter under Tuchel when the squad is healthy, especially with next year’s World Cup approaching. The German prefers a win-now approach as a manager, prioritizing experience and present skill over youth and potential; however, Burn is not superior to Jarrad Branthwaite (who is in the Under-21s squad). He is definitely older; in fact, he is a whole decade older.
We aren't entirely surprised by Tuchel's aim to blend youth and experience, but when the claimed experience lacks any international exposure, it raises some concerns. Certainly, we appreciate the narrative; however, it lacks coherence, and we perceive Burn as merely a one-cap marvel, taking the spot of a more deserving candidate like Branthwaite.
7. The obvious issue is Henderson. We aren't fond of metaphorical elephants, and this one is hitting an isolated LGBTQ+ community hard.
“What he contributes to each team is leadership, character, personality, and enthusiasm.” He ensures that all adhere to standards, and with this trait, he represents everything we aim to create. We aim to create a team that our fans can take pride in and feel a connection to. Jordan represents all that we desire from this team.”
Understood. If he “represents everything we desire from this team,” then we have significant concerns. Are we really meant to overlook the fact that he traded his soul for wealth from Saudi Arabia? That he utterly betrayed the LGBTQ+ community by acting in this way? The ridiculous interview with The Athletic attempting to explain his choice? The reality that his recent England games saw fans jeering at him while he responded to them as if they were fools?
Some England fans now sense they are not welcome at Wembley. Great job, Tommy T.
8. The spots that each player occupies in the squad list consistently spark interest, and for those who care, Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer, and Morgan Rogers are all categorized as midfielders.
There won't be any false nines, and being categorized as midfielders suggests that these three will compete to play behind the forward. Perhaps it suggests England adopting a 4-2-3-1 formation under Tuchel? Perhaps it suggests a 3-4-2-1 formation, but with the two playing as No. 10s? Or perhaps, just perhaps, it signifies utterly nothing at all.
9. Following that idea, this squad contains just two natural forwards. Harry Kane will, as expected, be greatly depended upon to score in the f**king goal. As a side note, during Tuchel’s press conference on Friday, a journalist inquired if Kane would continue to serve as captain. Exceptional material.
Ollie Watkins is likely injured after he limped off during the match against Club Brugge on Wednesday, leaving Spurs’ Dominic Solanke as the only other pure striker in Tuchel’s team. With Kane on your team, you really just require one additional choice.
10. A significant preference for big clubs has always existed in the national pool, whether you acknowledge it or not. Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah from Liverpool have certainly gained from being part of the top team in the nation. Many of us likely forgot about Quansah until he substituted for the injured Alexander-Arnold during the match against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
Jones is among the survivors from Carsley’s temporary period, and he has performed adequately this season; maybe not to the extent that he merits representing his nation over Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, and several others, yet still.
We can move past Jones being part of the team and believe he can be quite a valuable asset. Quansah, in contrast, is a fortunate boy. He’s neither a former regular struggling to make an impact at club level nor is he the upcoming sensation. Once more, we return to the location of Branthwaite.
11. The call-up Myles Lewis-Skelly received is well-deserved. He could potentially start both matches this month because of the limited choices on the left side of defense, which is unfamiliar territory for the Arsenal teenager at the club level.
12. In the squad, there is one player from the Championship: James Trafford. The Burnley goalkeeper boasts an astonishing 25 clean sheets in 36 league matches, taking advantage of Scott Parker's pivotal moment when he suffered a 9-0 defeat in his last game as Bournemouth's manager.
Championship players rarely enter the discussion, but goalkeepers are unique, so I suppose that’s fine. He is among four competing for the position in goal, but it's clear that Jordan Pickford will play for 180 minutes. It's all about being in and about the area for young Trafford, who is obviously seen as a future Number one for his nation.
13. Amid the turmoil, we are questioning the absence of Danny Welbeck’s selection. Tuchel has stressed the importance of blending youth with experience, considering it vital in England’s quest for a first World Cup since 1966.
Given the shortage of forwards in the team and Tuchel’s seasoned players being an untested Burn and unpredictable Henderson, we should advocate for Welbz. He is arguably the top English striker in the Premier League this season, and in addition to that, he is an excellent professional, having earned 42 caps for his national team. Oh well, let's look forward to the June games versus Andorra and Senegal (no one actually said that).
14. After being excluded due to his recent return from an injury, not due to a lack of desire to represent his country, it will be intriguing to see if White is included in the next England squad. It truly hinges on his playing time with Arsenal. Jurrien Timber is performing excellently but might shift to left-back, enabling White's return to Mikel Arteta’s first team.
Regardless, his presence is a significant advantage and additional proof that Gareth Southgate and his coaching staff, particularly Steve Holland, were to blame. Benny Blanco is returning.
15. The highly debated choice to maintain Kane as his captain demonstrates that Tuchel will rely on him to lead this group of England players to a significant international title. We will monitor closely to determine the level of dependence that will exist. The duo collaborated at Bayern Munich, which is the latest coaching role of the former Chelsea and PSG manager.
Kane netted 44 goals and provided 12 assists in 45 games while playing for Tuchel. It looks promising.
16) Let’s take a moment to consider Carsley’s team. We believed Angel Gomes represented the future. Taylor Harwood-Bellis also doesn't have a spot, but U21 manager Carsley is pleased to have him for the upcoming break.
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