Picking the England World Cup squad: Who makes our writers' final 26-man cut?

Thomas Tuchel will name his England World Cup squad on Friday Bradley Collyer/Pool/AFP via Getty Images Share articleHas Harry Maguire worked his way back into the picture? Will Phil Foden pay the price for an underwhelming season? Could Morgan Rogers be left at home? Should Max Dowman go as a wildcard option? England head coach Thomas Tuchel names his squad for the upcoming World Cup in North America on Friday, and these may be among the questions he is currently pondering. We asked eight of our writers to work out which 26 players they would take to the tournament if they were England boss and, while there are plenty of certainties, it is clear there are still places up for grabs… Jack Pitt-Brooke: Most of these picks are obvious. There is no point wasting words justifying Declan Rice’s inclusion. In terms of the marginal calls, I was very tempted to bring back Trent Alexander-Arnold but just went for Reece James and Tino Livramento as my right-backs. If either cannot prove his fitness, then the Real Madrid man comes in. Harry Maguire gets the nod as the experienced centre-back option over Dan Burn, but that is a tight one, too. Morgan Gibbs-White’s club form is too good to ignore, so he is in rather than Kobbie Mainoo as my extra midfielder. The forwards are more debatable. I dropped Phil Foden, who has not looked right for England for some time. Cole Palmer does make it onto my plane. Danny Welbeck is my back-up No 9 over Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Dominic Solanke, although that was not an easy call either. Jarrod Bowen also makes it. Elias Burke: In my initial draft, I opted for Harry Maguire as England’s fourth centre-back over Levi Colwill based on his experience with the national team in tournaments and his improved performances under Michael Carrick at club level, but I was so impressed with Colwill against Manchester City in the FA Cup final that he has stepped ahead of the Manchester United man. He’s a good fit from a profile perspective, adding a left-footer to the unit, and, given that many think he will be a fixture in England’s back line in the future, it will provide him with some tournament experience. That being said, I’ve gone for Luke Shaw over Lewis Hall. I also initially left out Morgan Gibbs-White, primarily because I was not sure how he would recover from the serious facial injury suffered in Nottingham Forest’s 3-1 win against Chelsea, but he answered my doubts on Sunday, scoring in a 3-2 defeat against Manchester United, assisted by Elliot Anderson. Gibbs-White’s 14 league goals from midfield are just the tip of the iceberg of what he brings to Forest, and he is one of the few England attacking players in red-hot form going into the World Cup. I hope he gets to play meaningful minutes in it. Jordan Henderson gets the nod for non-footballing reasons — too many team-mates and coaches wax lyrical about his leadership and standard-setting qualities to overlook his value. My most left-field brief consideration was Callum Wilson, because he’s so dangerous as a goal threat from the bench, but Ollie Watkins has ended the season in strong form, and he’s a far more sensible pick as backup No 9. Dan Sheldon: This squad largely picks itself. Trent Alexander-Arnold should be going to the World Cup and is a better option — and player — than Tino Livramento. The rest of my defensive picks are straightforward and don’t need any justification. In the heart of midfield, Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson should play every match, but Kobbie Mainoo is a great option off the bench and has been in great form of late, so would enter the tournament with momentum. The attacking players are all self-explanatory, although Danny Welbeck is my wildcard. I just think he has been more consistent than Ollie Watkins and, even though he has never been selected by Thomas Tuchel, has done more than enough to warrant a place in the squad. He would also be a great option to bring off the bench if England are searching for a goal. Mark Critchley: As close to a Gareth Southgate redux as possible. I don’t even know if I like this squad now I’ve actually written it down, but it mixes tournament experience with new blood. Trent Alexander-Arnold is too good a player to leave in Madrid. Luke Shaw is in off the back of his most consistent and consistently available season in a long time and can play left of a back three if needed. I’ve come round to the idea of Jordan Henderson being a grandfatherly figure. Apologies in particular to Morgan Rogers. It was a close call with Morgan Gibbs-White. Sorry to Adam Wharton, Phil Foden, Jarrod Bowen, Ollie Watkins and Tino Livramento too. Ivan Toney? Look, I want five proper, consistent penalty takers. Harry Kane, Anthony Gordon, Cole Palmer, him and Bukayo Saka in that order. Maybe we’re in trouble if Kane gets injured with this squad, but we always would be anyway. Seb Stafford-Bloor: Nothing there feels especially contentious. The only real dilemma was leaving Noni Madueke out, choosing instead to make space for an extra centre-back; I want the option of using a back three and do not want to be gambling on the fitness of either Reece James or John Stones. Adam Wharton and Alex Scott make the squad on account of their fluency and having abilities which change the dynamics of the midfield. Scott can carry, Wharton can pass; accommodating both means Ollie Watkins misses out. Stuart James: What’s clear is that quite a few things have changed since I was asked to do this a couple of months ago. I now feel that Morgan Gibbs-White’s form is too good to ignore and that total of 14 league goals is an outstanding return in a team who are fifth from bottom. Ollie Watkins has also come good at the right time, so he’s back in my squad too. I feel bad for Dominic Calvert-Lewin — sorry. Levi Colwill’s timely return from injury gets him a place in the squad too, with his cause helped by the fact he’s a left-footer. I toyed with picking Myles Lewis-Skelly as well, but just feel he probably needed another seven or eight games in central midfield for Arsenal. There are five central defenders, which is a bit excessive but is partly influenced by concerns around what John Stones will and won’t be able to do. Oh, and Max Dowman is no longer on the plane – that’s not a decision I’ve made with any conviction. I still think he’s a great wildcard. Max Mathews: A talented, hungry, well-balanced squad… hopefully. Three goalkeepers: an extra outfielder’s benefits outweigh the security of a fourth stopper. Trent Alexander-Arnold is in with Ben White injured, while Ezri Konsa and the returning Levi Colwill can cover at full-back. Tyrick Mitchell deserves a spot as an out-and-out left-back. Harry Maguire waits in the wings if Colwill or John Stones are unfit/injured. In midfield, the technical ability and positivity of Adam Wharton and Kobbie Mainoo must be prioritised over a past-his-best Jordan Henderson. James Garner adds set-piece prowess and aggression — great to bring on if protecting a lead. Morgan Gibbs-White and Phil Foden are unlucky, while Myles Lewis-Skelly’s late surge came too late. Nico O’Reilly has the full-back-inverting-midfielder slot. Up front, I love Danny Welbeck as a smart and canny backup. Ollie Watkins and Noni Madueke have blown too hot and cold. Eberechi Eze has the slot on the left with Anthony Gordon and Marcus Rashford as versatile bench options. Rob Tanner: This World Cup could be the most physically demanding ever, so I am taking a few risks with my selections. Reece James and Tino Livramento have had their fair share of injury problems this season. Initially I thought, ‘Can I include both?’. But James is the best right-back, by far, and Livramento’s adaptability would be welcome. Just in case James’ body lets him down again, I would recall Trent Alexander-Arnold because I would prefer a natural right-back rather than a makeshift one in a 26-man squad. I also had concerns over Dominic Calvert-Lewin after his injury woes in the past but he has come through this season relatively unscathed and has scored 13 Premier League goals. He seems to be the best natural replacement for Harry Kane in how he plays. The option of Jarrod Bowen as a false nine should Kane be missing intrigues me too. The Manchester United duo of Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo have finished the season strongly, so I have included them, with Maguire and John Stones providing much-needed experience. Mainoo could be England’s surprise package if he gets a chance. In contrast, Cole Palmer has been out of form but he is just too talented to leave at home and he could spark to life when the games begin in North America. Cerys Jones: I don’t think the fringe players from March’s super-sized squad really did enough to justify a spot on the plane. Phil Foden has not shown enough to earn a place over Morgan Rogers or Cole Palmer (despite Palmer’s disappointing Premier League season). My real attacking dilemma was Jarrod Bowen: it’s with a heavy heart that I say he makes way, as I don’t want to leave either of the Morgans, Gibbs-White and Rogers, at home. The defence is straightforward: Thomas Tuchel has a wealth of steady centre-backs and bright full-backs to pick from. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms