Thomas Tuchel has suggested that Reece James and John Stones could feature in midfield for England at this summer's World Cup. The England head coach named both players in his 26-man squad for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, despite their primary positions being right-back and centre-back respectively.
Tuchel revealed that he sees both players as viable options in central midfield, a role they have occasionally filled for their clubs. Stones has been trialled in midfield by Tuchel, while James played there under former manager Sir Gareth Southgate. The German coach cited this versatility as a factor in leaving out Trent Alexander-Arnold and Adam Wharton.
Explaining his selections, Tuchel said: 'I think Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice are capable of doing very special things. I think Reece James is capable of producing very special moments from a right-back position. We believe that Reece James can also play as a No6, because he does on a high level for Chelsea. I think John Stones can play as a No6 for us.'
Tuchel acknowledged the difficulty of omitting Wharton and Alexander-Arnold, both known for their passing ability. He noted that Wharton lost form after March, while Alexander-Arnold's exclusion was due to the 'extra hunger' and 'youthfulness' of other squad members who had been with the team in previous camps.
