With the prospect of starting for England against Albania on Friday evening, Kyle Walker is another game closer to his 100th appearance for the Three Lions.
Tuchel has clearly set his eyes on Marcus Rashford in training, and the England attacker on loan at Aston Villa is keen on making his return to his nation after over one year.
Rashford is determined to make a first impression under new management. The last time Rashford played for England was March 23, 2024, in the match against Brazil.
Despite keeping his starting XI under wraps, Walker is set to be named at right-back, winning his 94th cap for England. The 34-year-old has endured a rollercoaster season since leaving Manchester City to join AC Milan, but Tuchel clearly regards him as a leader in the team based on his qualities.
In the defensive setup, Marc Guehi and Levi Colwill could be notable absentees, paving the way for Dan Burn to make his England debut alongside Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa. Burn’s inclusion in Tuchel’s squad raised eyebrows initially, but the 32-year-old has been in outstanding form for Newcastle United this season, making a compelling case for his selection.
Tuchel seems to prefer a back-four system over playing three centre-backs. This will be the tactical plan that will have Harry Kane spearhead the attack as captain, with Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham likely to anchor the midfield at Wembley. Tuchel has not yet named an official vice-captain, though Rice and Bellingham are both likely candidates for the position.
Discussing the vice-captaincy issue, Tuchel said: “No.”. I’ve heard of the topic. I was thinking, ‘Oh, they’re asking me and I haven’t considered this,’ but then I was thinking it’s not that significant right now. We have a captain, and line-ups will shift at the time from camp to camp. And this is more of a topic when we get to know each other better, and I will perhaps identify a set of players that is the leadership group and from there the vice-captain.”
Tuchel has only 23 players to choose from for the match-day squad due to World Cup qualifying squad limits. Morgan Gibbs-White, who was added late to the 26-man squad, Aaron Ramsdale, and Jarell Quansah will therefore not be picked.
With Tuchel beginning a new era in England’s history, everyone will be watching his first head coaching task as he tries to set the tone for the team’s journey to the 2026 World Cup.
