In our weekly series, John Cross, the Mirror’s chief football writer, reviews England’s players after Thomas Tuchel’s final men’s friendly at Wembley and gives his verdict on the 26-man squad.
It wasn’t the international break the England manager was hoping for (Image: Robin Jones in 2026)
Although Thomas Tuchel didn’t get the results he wanted, the overall picture for the World Cup is probably much clearer now.
Coach Tuchel has selected a 35-man split squad for the final two friendly matches at Wembley against Uruguay and Japan. And frankly, if you didn’t make that list without a good excuse, you probably wouldn’t be anywhere.
So at least we were able to reduce our World Cup chances and rankings, with a few notable exceptions.
Despite Reece James being injured, the Chelsea defender is undoubtedly one of Tuchel’s favorites and if he is healthy he will undoubtedly start at right-back.
Tuchel has made the centre-half pecking order very clear…Marc Gehi, Ezri Konsa, John Stones and Trevor Chalobah (injured this time) ahead of Harry Maguire. Maguire was brilliant against Uruguay and should be ranked even higher as a person of character and a reliable campaigner.
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read more: Former England manager urges Harry Maguire to consider refusing World Cup call-upread more: 6 top players set to miss 2026 World Cup, including 675 goalscorer and £62m star
Dan Byrne wasn’t name-checked but we know Tuchel likes him as a character and he could be a big presence and a threat from set-pieces.
Ben White played for England for the first time in three and a half years, and was both a hero and a villain, receiving boos during the match against Uruguay. White scored and conceded penalties, but still overcame everything. Although he didn’t play well in the second game against Japan, he showed that he can play at center back or right back, and he is now getting opportunities where he didn’t have any chances.
He will undoubtedly go down as one of the big winners of this camp, alongside Marcus Rashford, who started against Uruguay and made an impact coming off the bench against Japan. Lewis Hall also came on as a substitute and had a good performance against Japan.
The first game felt like an audition for several players. James Garner was active against Uruguay and definitely gave us a chance. He looked busy and was good on the ball, with coach Tuchel even calling him England’s “mini Valverde”.
James Garner featured for England against Uruguay and Japan (Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Dom Solanke was divisive, but I thought he held the ball well, laid off well and was good all-around. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was a huge missed opportunity in every sense of the word. I still think Ollie Watkins should come in as backup to Harry Kane. Danny Welbeck is playing well enough.
But of all the players, we had to take note of Phil Foden. He failed to capitalize on his chances in either match and was hooked before the time mark in both matches.
Foden started in the first game as number 10 in the centre, and in the second game as a false nine. Neither worked out and sadly it looked like he could be the biggest casualty of the summer.
Rather than evaluating each performance, we sort out the big winners and losers and select teams and starting lineups.
winner
Harry Kane – England looked lost without him Marcus Rashford Harry Maguire James Garner Ben White Danny Welbeck – Absence makes the heart grow fonder Jude Bellingham – When England are without him you understand his qualities
loser
Phil Forden Jed Spence Fikayo Tomori
England player ratings – Likelihood of getting on a plane
Let’s take a look at how the situation stacks up for the positions involved, including players who are currently on planes after the disappointment of the friendly, those who still have work to do, and those experiencing World Cup heartbreak.
goalkeeper
Jordan Pickford 10 Dean Henderson 9 James Trafford 8 Aaron Ramsdale 7 Jason Steele 6
defender
Mark Gehi 10 Ezri Konsa 9 John Stones 8 Dan Byrne 7 Trevor Chalobah 6 Harry Maguire 6 Jarel Quansah 6 Fikayo Tomori 4
right full back
Reece James 9 Tino Libramento 8 Ben White 7
left fullback
Lewis Hall 8 Nico O’Reilly 8 Jed Spence 6
midfielder
Declan Rice 9 Elliot Anderson 9 Jordan Henderson 7 Koby Mainu 7 James Garner 7 Adam Wharton 6 Alex Scott 5
No.10s
Morgan Rogers 9 Jude Bellingham 9 Cole Palmer 8 Eberechi Eze 7 Phil Foden 6
right wing
Bukayo Saka 9 Jarrod Bowen 7 Noni Maduke 7
left wing
Marcus Rashford 8 Anthony Gordon 8
strikers
Harry Kane 10 Ollie Watkins 7 Dominic Calvert-Lewin 6 Dominic Solanke 6 Danny Welbeck 6
England’s 2026 World Cup kit
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my squad
Goalkeeper 3: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford.
Defender 8: Reece James, Ezri Konsa, Mark Guehi, Tino Libramento, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Nico O’Reilly, Lewis Hall.
Midfield 7: Jude Bellingham, Elliott Anderson, Morgan Rogers, Declan Rice, James Garner, Alex Scott, Koby Mainu.
Forward 8: Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, Ollie Watkins, Jarrod Bowen.
My England starting XI: Pickford. James, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly. Anderson, Rice. Saka, Bellingham, Rashford. Kane.
Do you agree with John Cross? Share your opinion on the England national team’s slider below, both internally and externally.
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