Predicting England’s World Cup squad as Arsenal and Newcastle stars make the cut

England know who they will be facing at the World Cup next summer, but who will be playing for them?

Thomas Tuchel and his team qualified comfortably for the tournament in USA, Mexico and Canada, winning every game without conceding a goal and scoring 22.

There is still a few months before the trip across the Atlantic, but only two friendlies are scheduled before the World Cup.

In March, the Three Lions take on Uruguay and Japan, which will be the final chances to impress Tuchel.

Then comes the main event, where England will take on Croatia, Ghana and Panama in Group L of the World Cup in June.

Barring any nightmare injuries, there are some players who are nailed on to be in the squad and the starting XI.

Other positions are up for grabs and Tuchel has big decisions to make. Here is how we see those decisions panning out.

Goalkeepers

Jordan Pickford has remained first choice under Thomas Tuchel and the Everton keeper will still be next summer.

Crystal Palace’s Dean Henderson has been in good form and is likely to be second choice, with Nick Pope in with a good chance of taking that third spot as he is still playing regularly for Newcastle.

Defenders

It does not seem long ago that England had more right-backs than they could shake a stick at, but that is not the case now. Reece James looks to be first choice, if fit, while the versatile Tino Livramento could be the next in line.

John Stones and Marc Guehi are the strongest choices in the middle of defence, with Tuchel clearly a fan of Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa, so he will be in.

Dan Burn may well be on the plane as cover at centre-back and left-back, which is handy.

The slot on the left of defence is still up for grabs but Nico O’Reilly is making the most impressive case for it at Manchester City. Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly can secure the back-up role.

Midfielders

Declan Rice is a nailed on starter in central midfield, while Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson has gone a long way to booking his spot in the starting XI next to him.

It seems likely that Tuchel’s preferred experienced campaigner, Jordan Henderson, will be involved, while Adam Wharton should also make the cut.

Then come the array of No.10s, with Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Morgan Rogers, Eberechi Eze and Cole Palmer all able to make the 26-man squad.

Wingers

On the right flank Bukayo Saka is sure to start and his Arsenal understudy, Noni Madueke, may well be taking the same job for England.

Marcus Rashford and Anthony Gordon will be Tuchel’s choices on the left, although the Newcastle man might need to pick up his form to be certain of that.

Strikers

Captain Harry Kane will be up top and Ollie Watkins looks unlikely to be usurped as the back-up centre-forward.

Kane has been in spectacular form for Bayern Munich this season so far and Tuchel will be desperate he turns up fit in the summer.

Other options are not plentiful, but Watkins is the man in control of that slot.

Who could still make it onto the plane?

There are a few players unlucky to miss out at this stage, probably West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen more than anyone. Bowen could beat Madueke to the plane, depending on how many minutes the Arsenal man gets over the second half of the season.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is obviously an option at right-back but has had a slow start to life at Real Madrid and will need to speed up.

It could also be the case that Tuchel scraps one of his plethora of No.10s and drafts in another central midfielder, with the likes of Conor Gallagher, Curtis Jones, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Morgan Gibbs-White all possibilities.

Could Danny Welbeck make a late burst for a romantic trip across the Atlantic? Maybe.

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