Jude Bellingham is not guaranteed a starting place for England this summer. Photograph: David Buono/Action Plus/Shutterstock
Thomas Tuchel wants to ‘put a second star on the shirt’ after making big selection calls, but what will be Jude Bellingham’s role? By Jacob Steinberg
This article is part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from three countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 11 June.
The Plan
Qualifying was a doddle. England cruised through it, recording eight wins from eight games, 22 goals scored and none conceded, but the opposition was hardly taxing. As so often the question is how the Three Lions will fare when they come up against the very best in a knockout tie.
Over to Thomas Tuchel, then. Brought in after a series of near misses under Gareth Southgate, the German has been tasked with getting England over the line, ending 60 years of hurt for the men’s side. The aim, Tuchel said at his unveiling in October 2024, is to “to try and put a second star on the shirt”. But the former Chelsea manager is realistic about his side’s hopes this summer. “We can’t be one of the favourites as we haven’t won it for so long,” Tuchel said this week. “There are proven winners within the tournament. These are the favourites.”
England: Group L fixtures
- 17 June v Croatia, Dallas (3pm local, 9pm BST, 18 June 6am AEST)
- 23 June v Ghana, Boston (4pm local, 9pm BST, 24 June 6am AEST)
- 27 June v Panama, New York/New Jersey (5pm local, 10pm BST, 28 June 7am AEST)
It has not been the easiest build. There have been some missteps under Tuchel – performances against Andorra and Senegal last summer drew a negative response – but there have been some fine outings. England are good when they have a shared purpose. Tuchel has talked about building a brotherhood. He has looked to implement the right culture in the camp and he has a talented squad. He made some bold calls with his squad, omitting Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold but taking Ivan Toney, and appears to have found clarity.
Expect England to line up in a 4-2-3-1 system. They have enviable attacking options, a host of No 10s and Declan Rice, one of the best midfielders in the world. There are, however, question marks over the defensive options and, as ever, fitness concerns over key players. As for Tuchel’s relationship with Jude Bellingham, that will need to be handled carefully. If the Real Madrid midfielder is in the mood, he could be the player who helps England lift the trophy.
It was important that Bellingham played well as England eased to warm-up wins over New Zealand and Costa Rica in Florida. “This will hopefully be an amazing experience,” Tuchel said after beating Costa Rica.
England
The Coach
A German managing England? It might be jarring to some, but the thing about Thomas Tuchel is that he is an anglophile. He gets the culture and he is one of the best managers in the world. Tuchel won league titles with Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, while winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021 showcased his mastery of knockout football. However, this is his first foray into international football. Southgate was outstanding at creating the right environment during a tournament. Can Tuchel, who recently extended his contract through to Euro 2028, make sure that the shirt does not feel heavy?
Star Player
Harry Kane is England’s record goalscorer and the captain is still the team’s inspiration. To think that there were doubts over Harry Kane’s England future when he was substituted during the defeat against Spain in the final of Euro 2024. The striker laboured through that tournament, his performances those of a player who was clearly not at 100%, but he remains the team’s inspiration and leader. Quite simply, England do not function without their captain and record goalscorer. Tuchel needs Kane to be fresh. The Bayern Munich striker has had another prolific season and a strong World Cup will put him in contention for the Ballon d’Or.
One to Watch
England are not short of No 10s but the one who has caught the eye under Tuchel is Morgan Rogers. The Aston Villa attacker produced a breakout display last September in the 5-0 win against Serbia in Belgrade, and is valued for his work on and off the ball. Tuchel loves Rogers’s counterpressing. It could mean the 23-year-old, a self-confessed football obsessive, is above players such as Bellingham and Eberechi Eze in the pecking order. Big names to keep out, but Rogers is confident. “The way I was as a kid, I still think I’m that person now, wanting to show my freedom in the way I play,” he says.
Unsung Hero
Declan and who? For so long the question was who should play next to Rice in midfield. Southgate could not come up with the answer after Kalvin Phillips drifted from view, but Tuchel has Elliot Anderson. The Nottingham Forest midfielder is quite the find. He has gone from strength to strength since making his senior debut last September. On the eve of the tournament Forest turned down a £122m bid from Manchester City and Anderson is already a certain starter for England. “He is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League,” Tuchel says. “That’s why he is with us and starting for us. He is a very complete and mobile midfielder.”
Probable Starting XI
England’s likely lineup features a 4-2-3-1 formation, with key players including Harry Kane, Declan Rice, and emerging talents like Morgan Rogers and Elliot Anderson.
What to Expect from Fans at Games?
Get ready for the rest of the world to pretend not to know that “It’s coming home” is an ironic, self-deprecating line about years of failure. The yearning goes on but while England are usually well supported at tournaments this one has brought plenty of gripes over the cost. The Football Supporters’ Association has called ticket prices “scandalous” and February brought news that England will not sell out their official FA allocation if they reach the final. Fan groups have hit out at the greed, calling this the rip-off World Cup.
Relationship with the US/Trump?
The royal family have recently been in town so perhaps President Trump will be belting out God Save The King before England games. And while Trump’s relations with the UK government are decidedly frosty at the moment, do not expect the FA to wade into politics: the English governing body stayed out of it when the last World Cup was held in Qatar. The focus is likely to remain on football. The FA has not been hugely vocal when it comes to defending fans over ticket prices.
