England's World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina has ended their hopes of glory, and now manager Thomas Tuchel is set to rotate his squad for the third-place play-off against France on Saturday. This could mean that several players have already played their final game for the Three Lions.
Jordan Henderson's Tournament to Forget
Jordan Henderson, 36, was fortunate to be selected for the World Cup squad. Despite only playing six minutes in the group stage against Panama, he managed to have a calamitous tournament. His most notable contribution was a freak injury suffered while celebrating the victory over Mexico, when he fell over pitchside advertising boards and broke his arm. Henderson will not be available for the France match, and it is hard to see him making another England squad at his age.
Dan Burn's Unique Role May Not Be Enough
Dan Burn, 34, has been used off the bench to help England protect leads, but his introduction failed to have the desired impact against Argentina. With only a slim chance of being involved in future tournaments, the France game could be his final international appearance.
Ivan Toney's Penalty Expertise Unused
Ivan Toney was brought into the squad primarily for his penalty expertise, but England never faced a shootout, making him redundant. He was thrown on against Argentina out of desperation as England hunted an equaliser in stoppage time. At 34 by the next World Cup in 2030, it is unlikely he will be selected again.
According to Archie Griggs of Express Sport, these three players may have already played their final games for England. Tuchel's expected rotation against France will give fringe players a chance to impress, but for Henderson, Burn, and Toney, it may be the end of their international careers.
