England XI for Thomas Tuchel's first game in charge as new boss shows ruthless side
Thomas Tuchel will manage England for the first time on Friday as the Three Lions take on Albania at a sold-out Wembley in their opening World Cup qualifying fixture
England are expected to line up with a back four in Thomas Tuchel's first game as manager against Albania. Tuchel, 51, employed a three-man defence during his time with Chelsea before switching to a back four at Bayern Munich.
The German's aim is build a team capable of winning the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Their journey kicks off at Wembley on Friday, hosting the group's third seed, Albania.
Speculation over which formation England will play has been simmering since the FA announced Tuchel as their next manager in October. The 51-year-old, who won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, officially started his role in January and announced his 26 call-ups last week before the squad met up at St George's Park on Monday.
And unlike his predecessor Gareth Southgate, the assembled squad at St George's Park have been kept on their toes over who will be named in Tuchel's first XI.
The ex-Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain boss confirmed in midweek that Harry Kane, who he coached at Bayern, would remain England's captain and he'll lead the line in attack at Wembley. Other ever-presents such as Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham will also start. There could be a surprise in goal, although Jordan Pickford is still the favourite to start over James Trafford and Dean Henderson.
READ MORE: Thomas Tuchel leaves three England stars out of squad as Morgan Gibbs-White decision madeREAD MORE: Harry Kane hails Jordan Henderson England recall and makes Euro 2024 admissionKyle Walker, who's spending the rest of this season on loan at AC Milan, is in line to get the nod at right-back over Chelsea's Reece James while Newcastle youngster Tino Livramento slots in at left-back, edging out Arsenal starlet Myles Lewis-Skelly.
In the middle of the back four, Ezri Konsa is set to start alongside either Marc Guehi or Levi Colwill. Centre-back is where injuries have hit Tuchel hardest, with John Stones and Harry Maguire both injured.
Ahead of Rice and Bellingham in midfield will be Manchester City star Phil Foden, who'll play centrally. Jordan Henderson, who earned a surprise recall to the squad, will start on the bench. Flanking Kane out wide, Marcus Rashford could be given a start on his return to the squad, with Tuchel effusive in his praise for the Aston Villa loanee. Anthony Gordon and Jarrod Bowen from Newcastle and West Ham respectively, will be the others in the mix to start.
Due to UEFA rules only allowing managers to name 23 players in their matchday squad, Tuchel has been forced to leave three men out and make ruthless calls. Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah are the unfortunate trio.
Has Thomas Tuchel picked the right XI for England? Have your say in the comments section.
Tuchel expects his players to be brave, claiming he doesn't believe in the notion that the England shirt weights heavy on them. "I've heard a lot that it's a heavy shirt. It is in fact not. But I know what the players mean," Tuchel said at his pre-match press conference.
"Watching the Euros I felt tension and pressure on the shoulders of the players and they were playing not to lose. I want us to play with excitement and the hunger and desire to win...and the acceptance of failure is part of it, especially in football."
England welcome Latvia, the second-lowest ranked team in the group, to Wembley on Monday. Tuchel's side then make the trip to Andorra in June before the reverse fixture takes place in September. Their first clash with second seed Serbia comes later that month.
The Three Lions will end their qualifying campaign with trips to Latvia and Albania either side of hosting Serbia.
England expected XI vs Albania: (4-2-3-1) Pickford; Walker, Konsa, Colwill, Livramento; Rice, Bellingham; Rashdford, Foden, Gordon; Kane.
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