National team boss Thomas Tuchel fielded an England squad full of surprises for the World Cup this morning.
England go into the World Cup this summer without players such as Harry Maguire, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Lewis Hall after Thomas Tuchel this morning fielded a controversial 26-man squad today.
Read: Manchester United can spend a huge sum on players!
Some of the most important absences were already known due to a series of leaks to the media in the last 24 hours, but it still comes as a surprise to see a squad that includes Jordan Henderson, Dan Burn, Djed Spence and Ivan Toney chosen to represent the Three Lions in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Brentford midfielder Henderson turns 36 on June 17, the day of England’s opening game against Croatia, while Burn have mostly looked weak in a season marked by games for Newcastle.
The experienced pair seem to have earned the recognition due to their influence in the dressing room rather than abilities on the pitch.
Burn plays mostly as a centre-back for Newcastle, but can also play on the left side of a back four, and will act as cover in a seemingly problematic position, with only Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly playing that role regularly.
The other options in the squad, Spence and Tino Livramento, are mainly right-backs.
Toney and Watkins will act as backups for England captain Kane
It is another confusing decision that Tuchel has chosen to take Toney and Watkins as cover for captain Harry Kane.
Toney has scored 32 goals for Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League but has not played for the country since a brief appearance in the loss to Senegal last year, while Watkins was left out of the last squad but is back after an impressive end to the season with Aston Villa.
England’s World Cup squad is:
The goalkeepers
Pickford (Everton), Henderson (Crystal Palace), Trafford (Manchester City)
The defenders
James (Chelsea), Livramento (Newcastle), Guehi (Manchester City), Konsa (Aston Villa), Stones (Manchester City), Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), O’Reilly (Manchester City), Spence (Tottenham), Burn (Newcastle)
Midfielders
Rice (Arsenal), Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Bellingham (Real Madrid), Henderson (Brentford), Rogers (Aston Villa), Mainoo (Manchester United)
The strikers
Saka (Arsenal), Madueke (Arsenal), Rashford (Barcelona, on loan from Manchester United), Gordon (Newcastle), Eze (Arsenal), Kane (Bayern Munich), Toney (Al-Ahli), Watkins (Aston Villa)
Read on English clubs: Premier League giant wants Norway’s assist king Julian Ryerson
