Thomas Tuchel opts for experience as Jordan Henderson is reinstated in the England squad

England’s head coach Thomas Tuchel wrapped up his press conference on Friday by expressing his preference to stay offline and avoid the chatter from countless armchair managers. Given the feedback surrounding his initial squad announcement, this seems to be a prudent approach.

Tuchel’s selection of 26 players for the opening World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia included a few unexpected names.

One notable surprise was the return of former Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson, a 34-year-old midfielder currently struggling to secure a starting position at Ajax Amsterdam. He made the move there in an attempt to revive his international career after a brief and heavily scrutinised stint in the Saudi Pro League.

As Tuchel prepared to speak to the media in Wembley’s lower levels, England’s fans and pundits had already taken to social media in droves to share their thoughts, and the majority of reactions were far from kind.

Words like “bizarre”, “regressive”, and “baffling” were commonly used to characterise Henderson’s inclusion, with a staggering 88% of respondents in a BBC Sport poll expressing disagreement with the choice.

While Tuchel’s squad featured a first call-up for Arsenal’s talented 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly and Newcastle United’s seasoned defender Dan Burn, his reluctance to significantly shake up the team indicates a focus on the immediate 18 months rather than England’s long-term development.

The former head coach of Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich, Tuchel was appointed as Gareth Southgate’s successor in October for one of the most scrutinised positions in football. He anticipated some tough questioning.

“I would be surprised if there wasn’t some element of surprise in the discussion,” he told reporters. “This job comes with that expectation. I think you would have loved to be in our meeting room over the last few days. We’ve had some emotional and intense debates.

There were very tough choices, some of which were obvious and others that were perhaps less so. Some decisions were incredibly close, and there are players not included who undoubtedly earned their place.”

Typically, a recall for 60-cap striker Marcus Rashford, who is currently on loan at Aston Villa after being sidelined at Manchester United, or the continued faith in defender Kyle Walker, might have sparked significant discussions.

However, Henderson’s inclusion over younger talents like Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton or Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White, especially with Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo sidelined through injury, became the focal point of media dialogue.

When asked about his decision, Tuchel asserted there’s no reason Henderson couldn’t be part of the squad for the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico next year.

“It’s quite straightforward. First and foremost, Jordan is a serial winner. He’s the captain of Ajax,” Tuchel said in response to questions from the press.

“He brings invaluable leadership, character, and energy to any team. He ensures that everyone adheres to high standards, and he embodies everything we expect from this squad.”

Staying true to tradition

Since taking over in January and observing 25 matches to assess his options, Tuchel has emphasised the limited time before the World Cup. He believes England’s best opportunity to claim a trophy for the first time since 1966, following Southgate’s near misses, lies in playing to their traditional strengths.

“The Premier League is a physical and direct league. We should have the courage to play like an England squad. We shouldn’t attempt to mimic other nations or styles excessively. My team must reflect the values of our country and the strongest league in the world,” he stated.

“Thus, we aim to implement a direct and attacking style, enhance the intensity of our gameplay, and do so in a crash course come Monday.”

Tuchel has long awaited the chance to ’embrace the players’ and ‘smell the grass’, and he expressed his eagerness to get started on Monday. However, he cautioned against expecting a complete overhaul of England’s style under Southgate.

“We won’t reinvent football in the four days we have before the first match,” he concluded.