WC26 Daily Hub · Team Card

England

Group L all level — group not yet started Form not yet played, not yet played, not yet played
Manager: Thomas Tuchel Captain: Harry Kane Projected XI shape: 4-2-3-1 World Cup history: 16 appearances (1950–2026) | Recent finish: Quarter-finals (2022) | Best finish: Champions (1966) Most appearances: Peter Shilton (125) Record goalscorer: Harry Kane (78)
The Slate

Group-stage fixtures

The System

Tactical profile

In the run up to this World Cup, England manager Thomas Tuchel has been quick to point out that his task is not to assemble the best 26 players but to build the best team possible. Unsurprisingly, this has meant building a team around England's best player - Harry Kane. This has led to some notable omissions: Tuchel has gone for 10 profiles who can run into the space opened out by Kane when he drops deeper - players like Morgan Rogers or Jude Bellingham take precedence over Phil Foden or Cole Palmer (both of whom are coming off the back of disappointing seasons). The wide forwards are all depth runners to accommodate for this too.

Deeper in the field, this team is built for possession control. Expect a Manchester City pairing of John Stones and Marc Guéhi who will be comfortable on the ball; they are flanked by Nico O'Reilly and Reece James, both able to invert into midfield or into the pockets, as well as take up more traditional full back positions. Ahead of them, Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson will form a double pivot both able to drop out into the first line, with Rice often pushing forward ahead of his partner. Through this positional fluidity, England will look to retain possession and generate progression. If progression doesn't yield immediate chances, their task will be to pin their opponents deep and find Kane in the box.

Key player

Even his few remaining detractors cannot deny for much longer that Harry Kane is simply one of England's all-time greatest players. Since moving to Bayern Munich in 2023, his goalscoring output has only become more ridiculous, registering a personal-best 61 club goals in all competitions in 25/26. Just need a few more of those in an England shirt.

Rising star

Going into this World Cup with a FWA Young Player of the Year award, Nico O'Reilly is capping off an exceptional twelve months in football. O'Reilly is something of a unicorn. He can play as a traditional full back, as a pivot in the midfield, as a pocket player higher up the pitch, or even as a box-holding striker. Expect to see this flexibility on display.

Fun fact

Jordan Pickford's family name was originally 'Pigford', but his father Lee changed it by deed poll after suffering bullying at school.

The Names

Squad by position

Goalkeepers
Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford
Central defenders
Marc Guéhi, John Stones, Ezri Konsa, Dan Burn, Jarell Quansah
Wide defenders
Reece James, Tino Livramento, Nico O'Reilly, Djed Spence
Defensive midfield
Declan Rice
Central midfield
Elliot Anderson, Kobbie Mainoo, Jordan Henderson
Attacking midfield
Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, Eberechi Eze
Wide forwards
Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon, Marcus Rashford, Noni Madueke
Central forwards
Harry Kane, Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney