England 0-1 Japan (Mitoma 23′)
WEMBLEY — This was supposed to convince the country to believe. Instead age-old concerns over England’s modus operandi of glorious failures in major tournaments reared their ugly heads once more.
Thomas Tuchel named a large, experimental squad for the final two domestic friendlies before the World Cup, against Uruguay and Japan, to give him one last chance to allow some peripheral figures a chance to stake their claim for a squad spot.
Some, however, did those chances more harm than good.
Winners
James Garner
In one of the few areas England are well stocked in, James Garner was not even in Tuchel’s vernacular a few months ago.
One match into his England career and the German now regards the Everton metronome as his own “mini-Valverde”. Comparing Garner to one of the most in-form midfielders in Europe suggests a strong impression has been made in the past week.
The former Manchester United midfielder offers something more marquee names in the England team do not – a genuine anchor option. It remains to be seen if Tuchel desires that additional defensive protection. Should he do so, ahead of perhaps Adam Wharton, Garner could get the unexpected call.
Marcus Rashford
A big end to the season could be in the offing for Marcus Rashford. One, after the vitriol that came his way as his Manchester United career ended so acrimoniously, that could see him a player reborn.
After the perfect start to his Barcelona loan, Rashford has found himself on the periphery of late. Raphinha’s injury will change all that. Game time that could convince Tuchel, already a Rashford aficionado, to select the 28-year-old, in the only role of England’s forward line – the left-hand side – that is up for grabs.
Rashford’s position is firmly up for grabs (Photo: PA)One meandering run against Uruguay was enough. Despite Rashford plundering 30 goals as a United central striker a few years ago, he has, throughout his career, looked more at home on the flank. The floor is now his, with his competitors flattering to deceive for club and country, to convince Tuchel what he appears to already know.
Jude Bellingham
Without kicking a ball, there can be no doubt that Jude Bellingham has to start against Croatia on 17 June. Even the Wembley DJ agreed after his decision to play the Beatles classic as the soundtrack to England’s lap of dishonour to an almost empty stadium following the Japan loss.
While Tuchel insists there is no problem with Bellingham after some negative press suggested the contrary last year, these two matches should leave Tuchel with the ultimate clarity: the alternatives just don’t even come close.
Phil Foden is a shadow of his former self, Morgan Rogers’ decline is real, while Cole Palmer has worryingly lost his pizzazz. This has been the most frustrating campaign in terms of injury for Bellingham, but all he needs to do is stay fit between now and the summer and that role off Harry Kane is his.
Losers
Thomas Tuchel
Two matches, zero lessons learned. The experiments didn’t work, a Ben White controversy emerged out of nowhere, players pulling out again became endemic, over-rotation stifled any hopes of fluidity, all while the only point proven was that never has an England attack been so dependent on one man.
These matches were not only a chance for Tuchel to give potential squad options their moment to shine, but an opportunity to settle on a starting XI. By deploying what was not even a B-team against Uruguay, the German was left with more questions than answers over who deserves a spot on the plane, while learning nothing about his potential starting line-up.
Tuchel got these line-ups wrong (Photo: Getty)“This camp will not define us,” Tuchel said after the Japan loss. Offering some semblance of reassurance.
Against Japan, Tuchel went with a false nine – Foden – and rarely has an England side looked so impotent in attack. Not now, Thomas. A winning formula from qualification is in danger of being ruined.
Harry Maguire
When sitting down with Harry Maguire at St George’s Park last week, the feeling of pride was palpable. Back in the England fold again, after all he has been through in recent years, on and off the pitch.
When he said it doesn’t matter if he played one minute or every second at the World Cup, as long as he could contribute in some way to England’s success he would be a happy man, you believed him. The sort of desire you want in your squad.
For Tuchel to publicly admit Maguire has an uphill battle to even win a seat on the plane after a Uruguay draw the United centre-back was one of England’s better players in, insisting he is even behind Trevor Chalobah, was an unnecessary blow even the resurgent veteran will struggle to come back from.
Phil Foden
There needs to be a public inquiry into what has happened to Phil Foden. This is the juncture in his career when he should have fulfilled all that promise to become the most exciting England midfielder since Paul Gascoigne.
Instead, Foden continues to look lost. Something happened to Foden at Euro 2024. After being crowned Player of the Year as City stormed to a fifth Premier League title in six, the City firebrand had a wretched tournament and hasn’t looked the same since.
Mainly down to others withdrawing, an undeserving Foden was handed two successive starts against Uruguay and Japan. One final chance to show us this once generational talent has not lost his way. He emerged having barely had the ball under control once. He should not even make the World Cup squad, never mind the starting XI.
Cole Palmer
Perhaps it is the Premier League’s fault. All these talented attacking players are just being stifled by set pieces and attritional football. Palmer is no exception.
He should be guaranteed a squad place, but that was not the point of these final domestic friendlies before the World Cup for Palmer.
The Chelsea forward’s versatility makes him a possible option in a variety of roles. His limp displays against Uruguay and Japan means a summer watching on from the sidelines could lie in wait. Like many others, Palmer just does not offer enough to stake a claim to be an important part of Tuchel’s plans.
Dominic Solanke
None of the Kane understudies excelled themselves over the past few days, but Dominic Solanke was perhaps the one with the biggest point to prove.
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As Tottenham’s season has lurched from one disaster to the next, England duty must have felt like holiday camp for Solanke, as he unexpectedly led the line – over more deserving names – against Uruguay.
Like everything else in this nadir-filled campaign, Solanke somehow emerged from these friendlies with even more reputational damage than he has already endured this term. With others scoring more goals domestically, other summer plans should be considered in the Solanke household.
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