Potential England Starting XI for Thomas Tuchel’s Initial Two Matches

The wait is nearly over as the England men’s senior squad prepares to embark on their first two international matches under the guidance of Thomas Tuchel.

The experienced 51-year-old German was appointed as Gareth Southgate’s successor on October 16, with his official term set to commence on January 1, 2025.

In the time since, Tuchel has spent the last couple of months exploring matches across the country to determine the players who will feature in his inaugural squad to face Albania and Latvia during the opening rounds of the World Cup qualifiers.

Anticipation is certainly mounting as fans—having sold out Wembley Stadium for the fixture against Albania—look forward to witnessing the dawn of the Tuchel era.

While Southgate may not have clinched any significant silverware during his tenure with the Three Lions, he came remarkably close.

His impact will be measured by more than just trophies; the culture and values he instilled regarding the representation of England were transformative. The atmosphere surrounding the national side shifted dramatically under his leadership, a unique spirit Tuchel will need to harness from the outset if he wants the players to adapt quickly to his vision.

With all due respect to Albania and Latvia, England should not face major hurdles in these upcoming fixtures. Nonetheless, Tuchel is unlikely to let his players take it easy. After all, he has a significant point to prove.

It will be interesting to see how he sets up the team for these two matches and which players he chooses to kick off England’s World Cup qualifying campaign on the right foot.

Tuchel seems keen on maintaining a familiar style rather than making drastic changes, stating in a recent interview that the playing style “needs to reflect the Premier League. We should not attempt to imitate other nations or styles.”

“We will strive for a direct, attacking style and look to boost the rhythm and intensity of our game.”

“We will aim to achieve this during a crash course on Monday and unlock our potential by Friday.”

One of Tuchel’s standout qualities among his peers is his knack for seamlessly altering formations while keeping possession dominance within matches. He favours aggressive sides that set the tempo, shunning a passive approach that allows the opposition to dictate play.

Given how Albania might position themselves, he could opt for formations such as 4-2-3-1, 3-4-2-1, or 4-3-3.

This fluidity in team shape enables players to interchange and adapt as necessary, although Tuchel will need to find the right balance to ensure success.

All four goalkeepers named in the squad—Dean Henderson, Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, and James Trafford—might stake a claim for the number one jersey, yet it would be surprising if the Everton keeper wasn’t selected to start.

He has played a pivotal role in the Toffees’ revival under David Moyes, and although Trafford has been exceptional with Burnley this season, it may not be the right moment for Tuchel to gamble on an untested keeper.

Following his impressive performance in the Carabao Cup final and his consistent form, it would be unexpected if Dan Burn didn’t earn his first England cap shortly after helping Newcastle secure their first major domestic trophy in 70 years. While Tuchel tends to avoid sentimental selections, Burn’s recent performances merit this opportunity.

With John Stones unavailable and Harry Maguire just returning from injury, there is a solid chance Burn could partner with the outstanding Marc Guehi, who proved his worth in a national shirt during the European Championship.

At left-back, Myles Lewis-Skelly stands a good chance of achieving his first cap, given his rapid rise at Arsenal and the fact that he is the sole natural player for that position in the squad. His recent performance against Manchester United illustrated his efficiency—he completed every pass during the game, a hallmark of his style under Mikel Arteta.

Tuchel’s reflections in an interview with the Football Association regarding “accelerating Myles’ career again” also speak volumes.

Focusing on the future means Kyle Walker will likely miss out on a starting role, with Reece James’ recent inconsistency and fitness issues potentially leaving him on the bench as well.

The right-back spot may therefore go to Tino Livramento, another Newcastle sensation this season, rounding off a new-look back four that boasts speed, strength, innate talent, and an indomitable spirit.

Utilising a 4-2-3-1 formation would allow Tuchel to implement a double pivot, making it almost pointless to reintegrate Jordan Henderson into the international fold unless the head coach intends to give him significant playing time.

While this might contradict a more attacking philosophy, acknowledging the Ajax midfielder’s hard work by deploying him to shield the back four makes sense.

Declan Rice would then be granted latitude to push forward as needed, contributing to the attack—a role he excels in for Arsenal week after week.

An unexpected element could be the return of an in-form Marcus Rashford. Although the Man United loan has yet to yield goals at Aston Villa, he’s definitely regained his form, and the confidence boost of pulling on the England shirt could make a difference for him.

Tuchel has indicated that “it’s the right time to push Marcus again,” and based on recent form, he would likely be ahead of both Anthony Gordon and Phil Foden for the left-sided role, with the exceptional Jarrod Bowen occupying the right.

West Ham’s campaign would have faltered significantly without their talismanic skipper, who demonstrates both comfort in cutting inside and the pace to take on defenders.

Meanwhile, placing Jude Bellingham as the number 10 directly behind Harry Kane in the attack is an undeniable choice.

Although Bellingham may not have hit peak form for extended stretches this LaLiga season, his capability to control England’s attacking moves from that central position will leverage his best abilities.

His knack for dishing out passes in all directions and making those signature late box runs behind Kane to capitalise on knockdowns will be invaluable for the 21-year-old.

With a potentially vintage club season ahead for Harry Kane—a maiden major trophy within reach with Bayern Munich, thanks in part to Tuchel signing him for the club—Tuchel will undoubtedly include England’s captain and all-time leading scorer at the top of his starting line-up, eager to commence the national team’s quest for a first World Cup title in 60 years on the best possible note.