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The Three Lions will face Serbia and Andorra in their final two qualifiers…
of England the work is already done. Qualifying for next summer’s World Cup is long overdue, and for Thomas Tuchel it’s both a luxury and a test.
With two qualifiers still to come – against Serbia and Albania – there is no pressure for results. The real question is what he does with that freedom.
This international break is not about chasing points or polishing the first choice XI. England’s main men – Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka – have nothing to prove in a qualifying group they have already dominated.
If Tuchel spends these last two games with the same predictable lineup, he will lose valuable time that could be used to assess his squad’s depth.
England’s path to a major tournament has rarely been smoother, but the final leap, indeed winning one, will come down to what lies beneath the surface.
This camp gives him the perfect chance to find out.
A deep dive into England’s defensive warriors
Tuchel’s defensive setup has been constantly changing since his arrival. Jordan Pickford has often sat behind the back four of Reece James, John Stones, Mark Guehi and Tino Livramento, but injuries mean the former Chelsea the boss had to consider other options.
Ezri Konsa has been excellent for Aston Villa this season and looks like the most natural candidate to step in.
He is calm in possession, athletic on the rebound and tactically sharp enough to switch between a back four and a back three, qualities that suit Tuchel’s system well.
Along with him, Jarrell Quansach is the true wildcard. The 21-year-old has been quietly outstanding at Bayer Leverkusen, learning how to build a pressure game and defend in space.
As a full-back, Tuchel knows what he has in Reece James, but the Chelsea man’s ongoing injury problems make it essential to test others.
Jed Spence could offer something different: raw pace, width and attacking appetite, ideal if England ever revert to a wing-back system, the same could be said for Nico O’Reilly.
And while Jordan Pickford’s role is certain, there’s nothing wrong with exploring options behind him. Dean Henderson’s range of passing makes him a natural fit for Tuchel’s system.
Life without Rice and Bellingham
Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham form the heart of this England team, everything flows through them. But if Tuchel wants to really understand his team, now is the time to see what happens without them.
Jordan Henderson’s recall may be controversial, but he benefits from his experience in a young group. However, his place in the final World Cup squad is far from guaranteed.
Adam Wharton has quietly become one of Crystal Palace’s most consistent players, meanwhile Alex Scott showed at Bournemouth that he can control games and is ready to step up.
Both deserve real minutes next to each other, perhaps in a three with Elliott Anderson.
That trio may not have the heft of Rice and Bellingham, but that’s exactly the point. These games should reveal who can step up when the stars are unavailable, who can sustain England’s rhythm without disrupting its identity.
Resting Kane and adding to the attack
Harry Kane has carried England’s attack for years. He is the captain, the goalscorer, the link man and his place in the World Cup squad is secure.
But once the qualification is sealed, there’s no reason to take any chances with it. Kane’s workload at Bayern Munich has been relentless and Tuchel would be wise to use this window to explore what England look like without him.
Marcus Rashford offers one solution. His loan move to Barcelona seems to have revived his confidence, and running him through the middle could bring a different dynamic: more pace at the back, more verticality and less reliance on build-up through Kane.
It will also test whether England can adapt to a quicker, more transitional attacking style, something that might suit knockout football.
Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon are certain to make the World Cup squad, but Tuchel could freshen things up by pairing them with players still trying to break through. Jarrod Bowen has been outstanding for West Ham, while Eberechi Eze brings a creativity and flair that few others possess.
Eze, in particular, deserves a closer look. His ability to slide through defenders and unlock tight spaces could make him a true game-changer off the bench in major tournaments. Likewise, the versatility of Morgan Rodgers, able to play out wide as a false nine or as a roaming attacking midfielder, could give Tuchel a tactical wildcard option.
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