England FIFA World Cup 2026 Preview: Three Lions look to end 60-year wait

Former England striker Gary Lineker once said: «Football is a simple game. Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end the Germans always win.»

Although it was an ironic statement and England cannot field a squad of German players, the Football Association sides have pinned their hopes on the next best thing, with the controversial call to appoint a German, Thomas Tuchel. Although the announcement was met with mixed reactions, Tuchel has kept the noise at bay to lead England to comfortable World Cup qualification, winning eight games without conceding a single goal.

After six decades of failing on the international stage, Tuchel is now tasked with guiding England across the Atlantic in their quest for glory.

In recent years, Gareth Southgate, Tuchel’s predecessor, has struggled to find balance in his squads as he tries to accommodate England’s range of attacking midfielders. 10s. However, Tuchel has hit the mark and made the unpopular choice of leaving out Morgan Gibbs-White, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden – the omission of the latter two helped by their indifferent form. The erratic Jude Bellingham, the poster boy of the current era, will likely play second fiddle to the in-form Morgan Rogers, a much rounder, functional number one. 10.

The attacking options in the team are aimed at getting the best out of striker Harry Kane. While the 32-year-old Kane is still getting the goals in, the Bayern Munich man lacks mobility and that can be compensated for with the pace of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, Rogers and Bukayo Saka ahead of him.

While England have the firepower in attack, Declan Rice and the inexperienced Elliot Anderson will be tasked with providing control over possession, which has often let England down against the traditional big sides.

Jordan Pickford is indispensable in goal, but there are question marks about the fitness and tournament feel of the defenders in front of him. Nico O’Reilly, who has three caps, is likely to be the starting left-back, while Reece James has struggled with injuries in recent years. Centre-back John Stones, the most experienced at the back, has been plagued by injuries in recent times and has played a combined 331 minutes this calendar year.

The short period between matches in challenging conditions will also prove another hurdle to England’s ambitions. How England tackle a potential showdown against co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, situated 2,200 meters above sea level, and a showdown with Brazil in the July heat and humidity in Miami will be a real test of his title credentials.

Player to watch out for: Harry Kane

England’s all-time top scorer already has a Golden Boot from the 2018 World Cup but will want to banish the ghosts of the penalty miss from the 2022 quarter-final. His elite finishing and ability to drop deep to find attackers with his passing will make him a dual threat for opponents. He enters the tournament as Europe’s top scorer in the recently concluded season.

Coach

Tuchel is no stranger to England. He has previously worked at Chelsea, when he coached the Blues to a Champions League title in 2021. He also has an envious CV as manager of Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich. England will hope that Tuchel’s tactical acumen in tournament football can make the most of his resources.

Team

• Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford

• Defenders: Djed Spence, Marc Guéhi, Ezri Konsa, Reece James, Nico O’Reilly, Tino Livramento, Jarell Quansah, John Stones, Dan Burn

• Midfielders: Eberechi Eze, Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, Kobbie Mainoo, Jordan Henderson

• Forwards: Harry Kane (c), Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Anthony Gordon, Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney and Marcus Rashford

Published on June 12, 2026