Thomas Tuchel names penultimate England squad before World Cup
Thomas Tuchel has named his penultimate squad before this summer’s World Cup, with Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo earning their first England call-ups since September 2024.
The Three Lions will face Uruguay on March 27 and Japan on March 31, with both fixtures taking place at Wembley Stadium.
England will then complete their World Cup preparations with friendlies against New Zealand and Costa Rica in June, before their first group stage game against Croatia on June 17.
On Friday morning, the last squad before Tuchel makes his final 25-man selection for the World Cup was announced.
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“We decided to divide it into basically two camps almost, so we bring players in that we haven’t seen who haven’t played so much to open up the picture, and the competition for plane tickets to the US," Tuchel said on his decision to select a 35-man squad.
“Then from Friday and Saturday, a group of players will come into camp – ten or eleven players who get a rest before and we will then go with a new group and mix of players into the match against Japan.”
As previously noted, Manchester United pair Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo have been rewarded for their fine form under Michael Carrick, but teammate Luke Shaw has missed out.
Maguire and Mainoo last played for England in September 2024, when caretaker Lee Carsley was in charge for their Nations League clash with Ireland.
One of the big talking points from Friday's announcement has been the inclusion of Leeds United striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has not played for the Three Lions since July 2021.
Calvert-Lewin has been in fine form this season, notching 10 goals in 29 appearances for Daniel Farke’s side.
Another surprise inclusion is Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele, who has not made a Premier League appearance this season. In fact, the 35-year-old has never played senior football for his country, but represented Great Britain at the 2012 Olympic Games.
Everton's James Garner has also been drafted in, receiving his first-ever England call-up after impressing for David Moyes' side.
The 25-year-old midfielder has started every Premier League game for the Toffees this season and ranks in the top three in England's top flight for both tackles (88) and interceptions (46).
Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton joins Garner in the midfield alongside Declan Rice, Morgan Rogers, Jude Bellingham, Elliot Anderson and Jordan Henderson.
Newcastle defender Lewis Hall, who last played for England in 2024 under Lee Carsley, also has a chance of featuring against Uruguay and Japan after being named in Tuchel's plans.
England 35-man squad for friendlies against Uruguay and Japan:
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester City), Aaron Ramsdale (Newcastle United), Jason Steele (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Lewis Hall (Newcastle United), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan)
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), James Garner (Everton), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona, loan from Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur)
Topics: England, Thomas Tuchel, FIFA World Cup, Uruguay, Japan
Jack Kenmare