England head coach Thomas Tuchel has made bold selections for the World Cup squad, notably leaving out Jude Bellingham and ranking Harry Maguire fifth in defense. His decisive approach contrasts sharply with Gareth Southgate's more conservative style.
Key points
Tuchel made bold selections for the World Cup squad.
Bellingham was left out despite wanting to be included.
Maguire is ranked fifth in central defense.
Tuchel's style contrasts with Southgate's conservatism.
Toney is noted as a significant wild card in the squad.
Mentioned in this story
Thomas TuchelGareth SouthgateJude BellinghamHarry MaguireIvan Toney
England head coach Thomas Tuchel has never hidden from taking tough decisions or throwing down wild cards, so his eyebrow-raising World Cup squad follows true to form.
Whether it was leaving Jude Bellingham out of England's squad when Real Madrid's superstar wanted to be included, or announcing Harry Maguire was only fifth choice in central defence after an impressive return to international duty in March, Tuchel refuses to bend to the popular mood or a star system.
If predecessor Gareth Southgate was criticised for being cloaked in conservatism and playing it safe, Tuchel's iron will in following his instincts has now effectively positioned himself as the anti-Southgate.
Tuchel has mentioned "proof of concept" in the past, which will come in a matter of weeks, but there is no doubt there is a heavy element of a gambler's roll of the dice in almost every position with this England squad.
Toney the wildest of wild cards
Ivan Toney's sudden return to England's squad after a year out is both a remarkable act of faith – or change of heart - on Tuchel's part as well as a condemnation of others who had claims on being Harry Kane's understudy.
It is also another sign of what is surely England and Tuchel's biggest fear – how can they cope should misfortune befall all-time record goalscorer Kane?
Quite how 30-year-old Toney has worked his way back into Tuchel's consciousness is intriguing, given he was summoned from Saudi Arabia a year ago for a World Cup qualifier away to Andorra then a friendly at home to Senegal, given two minutes as a substitute in the latter as England lost 3-1, then was dispatched never to be seen again.
Until now. Until Tuchel laid out his World Cup masterplan.
Toney has scored 42 goals for his Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli this season, not necessarily the acid test of international quality, but this pick has not come from left field. It has come from a different continent.
It may be that Toney has the cool temperament required in the heat of World Cup combat, and he is a penalty expert of course, but why has Tuchel left his selection until now after trying Dominic Calvert-Lewin and ignored the clams of Brighton veteran Danny Welbeck?
If he felt Toney was going to be part of his World Cup plans for those March friendlies, why not pick him then?
England's midfield creation left at home?
Tuchel has come up with an emphatic answer to the question of whether Manchester City's Phil Foden or Chelsea's Cole Palmer should make his squad – neither.
In reality, Foden or Palmer can have no complaints based on form this season. Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White and Bournemouth's Alex Scott can be equally, if not more, aggrieved.
And Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton, a smooth mover and passer but maybe not quite intense enough for Tuchel's liking, might just be the most disappointed of all.
Q&A
Why did Thomas Tuchel leave Jude Bellingham out of the England squad?
Thomas Tuchel left Jude Bellingham out of the England squad despite his desire to be included, reflecting Tuchel's willingness to make tough decisions.
How does Tuchel's approach differ from Gareth Southgate's?
Tuchel's approach is characterized by bold, instinct-driven decisions, whereas Southgate has been criticized for his conservative tactics.
What does Tuchel mean by 'proof of concept' regarding his squad selections?
Tuchel refers to 'proof of concept' as the upcoming opportunity to validate his unconventional squad choices during the World Cup.
Who is the wild card player in Tuchel's England squad?
Ivan Toney is highlighted as the wildest of wild cards in Tuchel's England squad, showcasing Tuchel's gamble on less conventional choices.
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England's midfield has great talent, but could Tuchel not have made room for one more creator in that area rather than effectively pick two understudies to Harry Kane in Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, who deserves to go on current form, and Toney?
Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson will form the bedrock of England's midfield, but there was certainly a strong case for either Wharton or Gibbs-White to make the plane.
Further thorny issues will become clearer soon, such as who gets the nod between Bellingham or Aston Villa's outstanding Morgan Rogers in the number ten role.
Tuchel has never swayed from his belief the influence Brentford's Jordan Henderson, who will be 36 on the day England play their first game against Croatia, has on his squad. It is hard, though, to see him getting many minutes at the World Cup.
Once again, as he has done since he took over, Tuchel has iron conviction in his principles and has stuck to them firmly.
Tuchel must make case for England's defence
Tuchel not only had to deal with a "shocked and gutted" Maguire after he learned of his exclusion from England's World Cup, he also copped a blast from his "absolutely disgusted" mother Zoe.
This will cut no ice with Tuchel, but his defensive selection will come under serious scrutiny.
John Stones, on sheer class and ability alone, would usually start England's first game at the World Cup, but this selection is high-risk based on his recent fitness record.
Stones, who leaves Manchester City after their final game this Sunday, has only started four Premier League games this season, 12 in all, so Tuchel's fingers will be crossed.
He may even be forced to return to Maguire should Stones suffer any further injuries, but the defensive questions do not end there, even though he also has Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa, as well as Bayer Leverkusen's former Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah, at his disposal.
Reece James will be first choice right-back, but has had hamstring troubles again recently, while Manchester City's Nico O'Reilly can occupy the left while offering versatility.
Tino Livramento, another who has had fitness issues, can play on both flanks, which begs the question as to whether the inclusion of Newcastle United's Dan Burn is one Tuchel gut feeling too many.
He has struggled to shine for England and is only likely to be utilised as a left-back if needed, where specialists such as Lewis Hall, Luke Shaw and Myles Lewis-Skelly, who have looked at home on the international stage, have been ignored.
Burn's giant stature would make him an obvious weapon for Tuchel at set pieces, but he has looked uncomfortable in possession and against mobile forwards for England. He would be a target for the opposition should he play at the World Cup.
Djed Spence's inclusion – another who can play left or right – will only fuel the argument about Trent Alexander-Arnold once more.
Alexander-Arnold was never going to make England's World Cup squad, his ship sailed when he was not included in a 35-man squad for friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, then overlooked for the previously self-exiled Ben White from Arsenal, when Tuchel needed replacements.
The simple question, however, is whether Spence would offer more to England's squad than Real Madrid's Alexander-Arnold, in either a defensive or attack context?
This, once more, is another Tuchel gamble.
And as with all rolls of a dice, the stakes on whether you win or lose are huge for Tuchel – as will discover once the World Cup gets under way.
