Your qualification has been secured – now the planning begins in earnest. There are seven months until Thomas Tuchel’s first tournament for England, but there is work to be done.
The Three Lions have qualified for the 2026 World Cup with two qualifying games remaining. These games will be at home against Serbia in November and away against Albania on Sunday.
Tuchel will then hold international camps in March and June to determine the best formula for England. But what places are still hiring?
Sky Sports’ football writers have considered which team Tuchel should pick, with each writer naming the following six players to start England’s opening game.
Jordan Pickford Mark Guehyde Cran Rice Bukayo Saka Jude Bellingham Harry Kane
This means that if England continue with their usual 4-2-3-1 formation under Thomas Tuchel, the following five positions will be up for grabs in the team:
Right full back left center back No. 1 defensive midfielder left winger
Take a look at the eleven our writers have chosen to start England’s first match and see who the candidates are for these positions…
Lewis-Skelly is still best at left-back.
Do you agree with Nick Wright’s England XI?
Nick Wright of Sky Sports:
Reece James would be my choice at right-back, but Real Madrid’s Trent Alexander-Arnold’s strong second half of the season might change my mind.
John Stones’ experience gives him an advantage over Ezri Konsa alongside Mark Guehi at centre-back, while Myles Lewis-Skelly remains the best bet at left-back. I expect him to get more playing time for Arsenal in the second half of the season.
The rise of Elliott Anderson is a huge boost for Thomas Tuchel. The Nottingham Forest midfielder should start at number six, with Declan Rice able to step up to support Jude Bellingham ahead of Cole Palmer and Morgan Rodgers in 10th place.
England international Anthony Gordon’s recent performances have placed him at the top of the left-wing pecking order for now. England’s wingers will need to excel in and out of possession in next summer’s competition, and Gordon could provide the right balance.
O’Reilly’s top left-back candidate
Do you agree with Sam Brits’ England XI?
Sam Blitz of Sky Sports:
If Reece James is healthy, he will start as England’s best right-back. Sorry, Trent. It’s also time to break away from the axis between John Stones and Harry Maguire. It was from a different era, and Ezri Konsa and Mark Gehi did more than enough to justify their status.
Nico O’Reilly should be the frontrunner for the left-back position, ahead of Jed Spence, who makes too many errors, and Myles Lewis-Skelly, who doesn’t play well enough.
The fight for number 10 should go to Jude Bellingham just because of his aura. Cole Palmer has done well off the bench and would be a very solid super-sub option for England, while Morgan Rodgers’ form under Tuchel will make you wonder where Eberechi Eze fits into all this.
A left-winger is also a possibility, but Anthony Gordon, who is in good form with Newcastle and England, is currently ahead of Marcus Rashford.
Konsa is a reliable right-back choice
Do you agree with Ron Walker’s England eleven?
Ron Walker of Sky Sports:
Six players in England’s line-up were my pick, but of the players who weren’t, Ezri Konsa is a reliable, consistent and good option at right-back, and John Stones is an experienced, quality option to partner Mark Guehi in the centre, as long as he’s available.
Nico O’Reilly is a wildcard but his performances for Manchester City speak for themselves and there is still time to earn a pre-competition cap.
Morgan Rodgers has been consistently good for England, but there are few in Jude Bellingham who have the X-factor to match, as we saw at the last Euros.
Marcus Rashford is already La Liga’s top assist maker this season and is currently playing for Barcelona. He has tournament experience defeating Anthony Gordon.
Start both Bellingham and Palmer?
Do you agree with Lewis Jones’ England XI?
Sky Sports’ Lewis Jones said:
Thomas Tuchel’s left-back problem could be solved by using Marc Gehi as a left-sided defender. He is someone who is comfortable playing on that side of the pitch and would be able to flex the right-back into a hybrid midfield role when Tuchel is in possession.
And while Harry Maguire has never let England down and is someone who will improve in a Three Lions shirt, his experience and threat from set-pieces remains underrated.
Tuchel can solve the big selection dilemma of the Jude Bellingham vs. Cole Palmer conundrum by simply picking both and rotating one from the left.
England’s first game will likely be a very winnable one, with both Bellingham and Palmer having the advantage of moving around against the low blocks. Perhaps that side’s need for balance will need to be prioritized as the tournament progresses.
Wharton over Anderson?
Do you agree with Ginny Boswell’s England Eleven?
Ginny Boswell from Sky Sports:
I hope Thomas Tuchel doesn’t succumb to the pressure of having to fit all his star players into the England squad. Balance is key and that’s why Adam Wharton is on my team instead of Elliott Anderson.
The Crystal Palace midfielder has a unique skillset at the base of midfield. In my opinion, Jude Bellingham is currently ahead of Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers, but it shouldn’t really matter which of those three plays as long as it’s number 10.
Fullback is the area in the team I’m least bullish on. If Miles Lewis-Skelly can flourish in the Arsenal team and repeat his form from last year, he would be perfect for me as a left-back.
Rashford could solve problems on the left wing
Do you agree with David Richardson’s England eleven?
David Richardson of Sky Sports:
Now freed from the clutches of Manchester United, Marcus Rashford could completely solve England’s awkward left-wing position.
The 28-year-old was left out of Euro 2024, which he missed out on for the first time having played in the previous four tournaments, but he has regained his form at Barcelona and has extensive experience at international level.
Anthony Gordon’s fearless dribbling should be used to get tired legs running down the left in the latter stages of games, while Eberechi Eze and Phil Foden will be exclusive back-ups to Jude Bellingham in the number 10 role.
Rice’s role influences midfield partners
Do you agree with Laura Hunter’s England XI?
Laura Hunter on Sky Sports:
England are severely lacking in reliable centre-backs, but the best combination has to be John Stones and Marc Guehi. I would like to think of the left-back challenge as an opportunity rather than a problem. Rotating between No. 1 pick Myles Lewis-Skelly and Nico O’Reilly, two of the best young full-backs in the Premier League, is hardly considered a problem.
The biggest focus will be on the midfield and who will partner Declan Rice. Rice’s specific role plays an important role in this thinking. If manager Thomas Tuchel wants Arsenal’s midfielder to sit, I’d be happy to play Adam Wharton, but if Rice is given a chance of promotion, I’d prefer to use Elliott Anderson’s physicality as cover.
Jude Bellingham and Cole Palmer are interchangeable at No. 10, which is another nice headache. And if Marcus Rashford continues to play an active role in Spain, I would like to see him used from the left side.
