Big debate: Thomas Tuchel will name England squad for the World Cup on Friday, with much debate surrounding which stars will be called up or not.
Get your boarding pass ready. The England team is coming. Coach Thomas Tuchel is expected to announce on Friday a group of 23 to 26 players who will represent the Three Lions of the United States, Canada and Mexico.
A provisional list of 55 players has already been submitted to FIFA, and Tuchel will have to narrow it down this week. The likes of Harry Kane, Jordan Pickford, Declan Rice and Mark Guehi will certainly get a call-up barring injury.
However, there is no doubt that Tuchel will have some difficult conversations in the coming days as he finalizes his squad for the trip. Who will get the chance to get on a plane and end 60 years of hurt? And who will be left at home to watch from their couch?
With these questions in mind, we asked Mirror Football’s team of writers for one wild card pick and one unexpected pick.
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read more: Manager Thomas Tuchel selects all 51 players selected for the World Cup squad for Englandread more: England player rating: ‘Miles Lewis-Skelly must be on Thomas Tuchel’s longlist’
john cross
Wildcard pick: Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Thomas Tuchel has 26 names. The England manager definitely needs to get three strikers. That’s Harry Kane and Olly Watkins, who is in good form. And one more person… who is that?
I think Ivan Toney has a chance to be a wild card for Tuchel based on the fact that he has scored goals in the Saudi Pro League, is a penalty kill killer and has played in previous tournaments.
It is a close call as to who will take the position of third striker. But I would choose Dominic Calvert-Lewin. He has performed well, finished the season well, is very passionate about England and is a penalty specialist.
Surprise omission: Phil Foden
Let me be clear: I love Phil Foden. He is one of the best young players in English football and I think he went into the last Euros in 2024 as a darling of England fans. “Phil Foden is on fire” and so on.
But I think it’s difficult to justify him within the team. He just doesn’t play enough. I think he’s a big name and a heartbreaking omission. Because normally we would use him any day of the week.
Who would be in your England squad? Let us know what you think in the comments section.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin spearheads Leeds’ survival bid (Image: George Wood/Getty Images)
Andy Dunn
Wildcard pick: Ivan Toney
He made a decisive impact in the previous tournament and has scored 42 goals and provided 10 assists for the club this season. He is a perfect penalty taker and that can’t be underestimated in a World Cup where we expect a lot of drawn games.
And with England’s reliance on Harry Kane a perennial concern, it seems strange that manager Thomas Tuchel has clearly not given the player serious consideration. However, despite his club being Al Ahly of the Saudi Professional League, Ivan Toney is definitely worth a shot when it comes to World Cup wildcard selection.
He made a brief but decisive contribution at Euro 2024, assisting Jude Bellingham’s winner in the last-16 match against Slovakia and scoring a penalty in the quarter-final shootout win over Switzerland.
Tuchel was only given a few minutes in the final stages of the friendly against Senegal and has not traveled to Saudi Arabia to meet him. But you know what you’re getting from Tony. It’s the goal threat and composure in shootouts.
Ivan Toni has scored 42 goals for Al Ahly this season (Image: Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
Surprise omitted: Harry Maguire
At the other end of the field, Harry Maguire has made a convincing case to go to the tournament and was recalled by Tuchel for the recent friendly.
However, Tuchel needs as much defensive mobility as possible and Manchester United’s big defenders may not be suited for the conditions. It may be an unpopular decision, but Tuchel would prefer players like Trevor Chalobah or Fikayo Tomori to Maguire.
Jeremy Cross
Wildcard pick: Danny Welbeck
Danny Welbeck would be the last choice of most people to go to the World Cup. However, there are no outstanding candidates to back up captain Harry Kane up front, and Welbeck has been one of the premier English strikers in the Premier League in recent seasons.
His goal gave Brighton a chance of qualifying for the Champions League, and his experience in previous major tournaments will be invaluable to Thomas Tuchel.
Surprising omission: Cole Palmer
But the person who shouldn’t be on the plane is Cole Palmer. England have a wealth of attacking options and given Palmer’s form there is no guarantee he will be included in the final squad.
He epitomizes Chelsea’s disastrous campaign this season. I think Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Morgan Rodgers and Anthony Gordon are all ahead of him in the pecking order.
Danny Welbeck continues to score goals at age 35 (Image: Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)
ben husband
Wildcard pick: Trent Alexander-Arnold
I don’t think he will be selected, but it remains baffling that England can’t find a place for Trent Alexander-Arnold. Tournaments are often won by moments of individual brilliance, and despite his flaws, Alexander-Arnold is capable of that.
Yes, he can be caught out defensively at times, but he is still one of the 25 best English footballers. Don’t overthink it.
Surprising omission: Cole Palmer
Cole Palmer is worried he’ll miss this summer, even though it seemed impossible just a few months ago. After two years of playing soccer, he is exhausted and seems in need of a long break.
Unfortunately, in recent months, his rivals for the same position have simply outperformed the Chelsea man. This is still very controversial, but I think spending the summer at the beach may be more beneficial in the long run.
Cole Palmer last took a summer break in 2022 (Image: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
nathan ridley
Wildcard pick: Luke Shaw
Normally it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a starter chosen for third-placed Manchester United’s England squad, but I have a feeling it would raise some eyebrows if Luke Shaw was included. That’s perhaps because the 30-year-old hasn’t played for England in nearly two years, his last cap coming in Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 final.
Having already featured in two World Cups and two European Championships, Shaw has a wealth of tournament football experience to draw on both on and off the pitch. This could be particularly important given that fellow left-backs Nico O’Reilly and Lewis Hall have represented England at such a high level.
Shaw, who has started all 37 of United’s Premier League games this season, has also had injury problems. His stunning goal to kick-start Sunday’s 3-2 win against Nottingham Forest will do him no harm.
Luke Shaw sent a timely reminder to Thomas Tuchel (Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Surprising omission: Cole Palmer
Let’s understand it correctly. Cole Palmer is a player who deserves to be part of the England squad. But context is important.
The Chelsea star has had an injury-plagued season and frankly looks battered. PFA chief executive Maheta Molango recently put it in the best possible terms: Mr Palmer may be a billionaire, but he doesn’t have a third lung.
Considering he’s not a starter on my team or even a second choice for the No. 10 role (see Morgan Rogers and Jude Bellingham), I’d leave Palmer at home. A summer break before a fresh start under Xabi Alonso could be just what the playmaker needs.
This was a tough call and I don’t forget that Palmer’s talent gave England a chance to compete in the 2024 final, but this will be for the sake of his career.
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