The wait is nearly over. Thomas Tuchel names his 26-man squad for the World Cup on Friday. And if one player has made a late push for the plane then it has to be Chelsea’s fit-again central defender Levi Colwill.
Having missed so much of the season through a knee injury, his performance in front of Tuchel at Wembley must have caught the England manager’s eye. Colwill also played so well at Liverpool in his previous game and, if you were judging him just on those two performances, he would be in the squad for his quality, composure and leadership.
The versatile centre-half—he can play in a back four, part of a back three and as a left back—is a superb defender and also a strong personality. He is what Chelsea need long term. But this is all about fitness and whether he will be ready for a gruelling tournament having just come back from injury.
Defensive Dilemmas
I think Harry Maguire might miss out, despite a stellar second half of the season. Personally I would take him, but I think Tuchel might be going in a different direction. That is the dilemma facing Tuchel and he probably has one on both flanks. At right back, Reece James is in pole position. Jarell Quansah is a back-up option. But could he risk Tino Livramento who is an injury worry?
On the left, Nico O’Reilly looks a shoo-in at left back. But then there’s Lewis Hall who has been in and out for Newcastle. Could Tuchel use Dan Burn—who he wants to take—as a left back option? Or even Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Striker Choices
England will almost certainly take three strikers. That is what Tuchel is planning for in a 26-man squad. Harry Kane is stitched-on. But then Ollie Watkins was not in March—and yet has been fantastic since then. He must go. It is a straight choice between Ivan Toney and Danny Welbeck, in my view. I'd be tempted to take Dominic Calvert-Lewin but it is questionable as to whether he passed the audition in March.
These are the questions facing Tuchel this week. He names his squad on Friday. He may add a couple in case of injury as stand-by because the squad does not have to be in until June 1 for FIFA. FIFA then make it public on June 2. Do not forget that Tuchel will probably watch through his fingers in the final weekend of the Premier League season. Last minute injuries are such a worry.
John Cross's England Squad
This is who I would take...
- Goalkeepers: Pickford, Henderson, Trafford.
- Defenders: Guehi, Konsa, Maguire, Stones, Quansah, Alexander-Arnold, James, O'Reilly, Lewis-Skelly.
- Midfield: Rice, Anderson, Mainoo, Scott, Bellingham, Rogers, Palmer.
- Forwards: Saka, Bowen, Rashford, Gordon, Kane, Watkins, Calvert-Lewin.
- Key omissions: Hall, Burn, Wharton, Henderson, Foden, Eze, Madueke.
Tuchel's Predicted England Squad
This is who I think Tuchel will take:
- Goalkeepers: Pickford, Henderson, Trafford.
- Defenders: Guehi, Konsa, Stones, Chalobah, Quansah, Livramento, James, O'Reilly, Burn.
- Midfield: Rice, Anderson, Mainoo, Wharton, Bellingham, Rogers, Palmer.
- Forwards: Saka, Bowen, Rashford, Gordon, Kane, Watkins, Toney.
- Key omissions: Maguire, Alexander-Arnold, Henderson, Foden, Eze, Madueke, Calvert-Lewin.
Do you agree with John Cross? Have your say with our England Squad Slider—in or out—below.
England Player Ratings This Week
Here, Cross gives his latest verdict on the players he saw live this week—Chelsea 0-1 Man City in the FA Cup final—and the squad overall...
Levi Colwill
Match rating: 7/10. He was super. Classy, composed and brilliant. He is a leader and gives Chelsea’s defence a real identity.
Current form: 7/10. This is the point. He just has not had enough. Three games—two starts—is just not enough to judge his fitness. It would be a gamble.
England squad rating: 6/10. He should be on the plane by rights—but decision will be made on fitness rather than quality.
Reece James
Match rating: 7/10. Played in midfield and did well enough despite a few misplaced passes. His delivery from set-pieces were very good.
Current form: 7/10. Just back from injury so he has some catching up to do. But he looks good and ready for the summer.
England squad rating: 8/10. He will be Thomas Tuchel’s first choice right back this summer—there can be no doubt.
Cole Palmer
Match rating: 7/10. He did OK. Was decent in front of Thomas Tuchel. Looks better with each game and tried to make things happen.
Current form: 6/10. He has been hit and miss. His form is defined by his fitness and he has lacked minutes to get sharp.
England squad rating: 7/10. It is a crowded field for the No10s but he is doing enough to make a late—but all-important push—for the plane.
Marc Guehi
Match rating: 8/10. He looked cool under pressure, he is stitched-on as England's best centre half and the kingpin in defence. Proved his quality again.
Current form: 8/10. Won the FA Cup for a second year running. Yes, he had a blip at Everton but he has made such a difference for City in the second half of the season.
England squad rating: 9/10. He is the first name on the team sheet in defence. A leader, top quality and a brilliant defender.
Nico O’Reilly
Match rating: 7/10. We expect fireworks and standout displays from O’Reilly at Wembley. He has been amazing! But he was steady this time and played well as ever.
Current form: 8/10. Looks a class act. Has grown with this season. Just looks untouchable at left back and is getting better with every game.
England squad rating: 9/10. No doubt it. His quality gets him on the plane. Had a superb season. Nailed-on starter.
James Trafford
Match rating: 7/10. Another solid display, another clean sheet and another chance to show that he never lets anyone down even though he does not play every week.
Current form: 7/10. He has shown that he can pick up from where he left off even if he is not No1. That is just perfect for England’s squad.
England squad rating: 8/10. After sweating on his place, has eased ahead of the competition like Nick Pope and Aaron Ramsdale.
England Player Ratings - Their chances of making the plane
Goalkeepers
- Jordan Pickford 10
- Dean Henderson 9
- James Trafford 8
- Aaron Ramsdale 6
- Jason Steele 6
Defenders
- Marc Guéhi 9
- Ezri Konsa 9
- John Stones 8
- Trevoh Chalobah 8
- Dan Burn 7
- Levi Colwill 6
- Harry Maguire 6
- Jarell Quansah 6
- Fikayo Tomori 4
Right backs
- Reece James 8
- Tino Livramento 6
- Trent Alexander-Arnold 5
Left backs
- Nico O’Reilly 9
- Lewis Hall 8
- Myles Lewis-Skelly 6
- Luke Shaw 5
- Djed Spence 4
Midfielders
- Declan Rice 9
- Elliot Anderson 9
- Kobbie Mainoo 7
- Jordan Henderson 6
- James Garner 7
- Adam Wharton 6
- Alex Scott 6
No10s
- Jude Bellingham 9
- Morgan Rogers 8
- Cole Palmer 7
- Eberechi Eze 7
- Phil Foden 5
Right wingers
- Bukayo Saka 9
- Jarrod Bowen 8
- Noni Madueke 6
Left wingers
- Marcus Rashford 9
- Anthony Gordon 8
Strikers
- Harry Kane 10
- Ollie Watkins 8
- Ivan Toney 7
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin 5
- Dominic Solanke 4
- Danny Welbeck 4
