Tuchel to name England squad, number‑10 battle
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- Thomas Tuchel will announce England’s squad for the Uruguay (27 March) and Japan (31 March) friendlies on Friday at 11:00 GMT.
- Morgan Rogers has become the first‑choice number 10 for England, starting five of the eight qualifying matches.
- Jude Bellingham is still recovering from a hamstring injury, has not played since 1 February, and was left out of the October training camp.
- John Stones is praised by Tuchel but has only been available for four of England’s ten games since the coach took over, making his fitness a key question for the World Cup.
- Ezri Konsa started six of England’s qualifiers and is expected to be part of the backline for the upcoming friendlies.
- Harry Maguire is making a late push for a squad place, with his experience on big stages cited as a potential asset.
- Cole Palmer has featured for only 65 minutes under Tuchel this season, and his role remains uncertain.
Why it matters: The squad list will lock in the players travelling to the World Cup, rewarding those who have earned starting spots in qualifiers—like Rogers at number 10 and Konsa in defense—while leaving injured or out‑of‑favor stars such as Bellingham and Palmer on the sidelines, shaping England’s tactical options.
