England’s 1-1 friendly with Uruguay offered Thomas Tuchel one last look at fringe players and sent mixed signals about who should travel to the World Cup. Some men strengthened their cases; others left Tuchel with tougher calls to make before he names his 26.
Harry Maguire: reassurance, not revival
Maguire’s recall felt like a safe, effective move. Starting for the first time since 2024, he produced a composed display: defending well at key moments, posing an aerial threat, and showing accurate long-range distribution, including a superb 70-yard pass that found Jarrod Bowen. He also threw his body to block a late effort in stoppage time. His major-tournament experience and calmness in possession make him a convincing candidate for a squad spot.
Ben White: versatility on show, but crowd and competition count against him
White endured a rollercoaster evening at Wembley — scoring, being jeered, and then penalised late — but Tuchel publicly defended him, saying the staff “protect our players” and that White is “ready to write some new chapters.” Used at centre-back here after being called up as an injury replacement, White demonstrated adaptability. Still, with options such as Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa ahead of him for centre-back roles and the right-back spot uncertain, the atmosphere around him and squad depth mean his selection is not guaranteed.
Phil Foden: useful squad player, but starting place far from certain
Foden was tidy and tactically disciplined, contributing more in defensive patterns and structure than in moment-making attack. Tuchel praised his training work and tactical intelligence but suggested Foden could be more adventurous in key moments. With Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers likely to feature in midfield, and Cole Palmer offering spark from the bench, Foden’s inclusion still seems likely given what he brings to the group dynamic — but his automatic starting spot is not assured.
Strikers: missed chances and an unclear deputy to Kane
Dominic Calvert-Lewin missed a glaring header that would have made a statement as a deputy to Harry Kane; he will regret an opportunity to end a long goal drought for England. Dominic Solanke impressed with his pressing and work-rate but failed to produce a decisive moment before being withdrawn. Ollie Watkins remains in the conversation if he rediscovers club form. At present, none of the forwards on show made a definitive case to displace Kane’s primary support options.
Debutants and fringe players: some promising signs, some unfinished business
James Garner earned his senior debut over other contenders and started strongly, particularly in the opening 20 minutes with robust tackles and quality deliveries, even if his influence tapered. James Trafford was dependable in goal and strengthened his claim to be third-choice behind Jordan Pickford and Dean Henderson. Fikayo Tomori had little to challenge him. Djed Spence showed promising link play from the left but did not fully control the wing-back role, while Tino Livramento, who played in the Serbia win, again offered a defensively secure alternative to Reece James and boosted his case. Tuchel still faces significant selection dilemmas across several positions.
What’s next
England face Japan in a final Wembley friendly before the squad is finalized — one last live audition for those on the bubble — with kick-off at 7.45pm on Tuesday. Two more warm-up fixtures follow against New Zealand and Costa Rica before England open against Croatia on June 17. For many players, the next week will determine whether they make the plane or remain hopeful back-ups.