Qualification is secured and Thomas Tuchel’s first tournament with England is seven months away. The Three Lions booked their spot with two qualifying games to spare — at home to Serbia in November and away to Albania on Sunday — and Tuchel has international camps in March and June to finalise his best formula.
Sky Sports writers all agreed on six starters for England’s opening game: Jordan Pickford, Marc Guehi, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane. If Tuchel sticks with a 4-2-3-1, five positions remain competitive: right-back, left-back, a centre-back spot, defensive midfield partner to Rice, and left wing.
Nick Wright
– Right-back: Reece James, though a strong second half from Trent Alexander-Arnold could change that.
– Centre-backs: John Stones pairs with Marc Guehi for experience and balance.
– Left-back: Myles Lewis-Skelly remains the best bet and should play more for Arsenal in the second half of the season.
– Midfield: Elliot Anderson as the No 6 to allow Rice to push forward; Jude Bellingham ahead of Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers at No 10.
– Left wing: Anthony Gordon leads the pecking order for his balance in and out of possession.
Sam Blitz
– Right-back: Reece James if fit; time to move on from the Stones-Maguire duo.
– Centre-backs: Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi justify their spots.
– Left-back: Nico O’Reilly should be frontrunner over Djed Spence and Lewis-Skelly, the latter not playing enough.
– No 10: Jude Bellingham for aura; Cole Palmer a strong super-sub. Morgan Rogers’ form complicates Eberechi Eze’s role.
– Left wing: Anthony Gordon currently ahead of Marcus Rashford.
Ron Walker
– Right-back: Ezri Konsa offers reliability, consistency and fitness.
– Centre-back: John Stones’ experience pairs well with Marc Guehi if available.
– Left-back: Nico O’Reilly is a wildcard with performances for Manchester City backing him.
– No 10: Jude Bellingham has unmatched X-factor; Morgan Rogers has been excellent for England.
– Left wing: Marcus Rashford’s form at Barcelona and assist numbers give him the edge over Gordon.
Lewis Jones
– Defensive setup: Marc Guehi could be used as the left-sided centre-back to allow flexibility and hybrid right-back midfield roles.
– Centre-back options: Harry Maguire’s experience and set-piece threat still matter.
– Attack: Tuchel could start both Jude Bellingham and Cole Palmer, with one rotated off the left to trouble low-block opponents.
Zinny Boswell
– Balance: Adam Wharton preferred over Elliot Anderson as the midfield base because of his unique skillset.
– No 10: Bellingham ahead of Palmer and Morgan Rogers, though any of those three can operate in the role.
– Full-back: Lewis-Skelly is first pick at left-back if he can recapture last season’s form.
David Richardson
– Left wing: Marcus Rashford can solve the left-wing issue after rediscovering form at Barcelona; his experience matters after missing Euro 2024.
– Bench: Anthony Gordon is best used late to run at tired legs; Eze and Phil Foden are backups for the No 10 role behind Bellingham.
Laura Hunter
– Centre-backs: John Stones and Marc Guehi form the best pairing amid a shortage of reliable options.
– Full-backs: Rotate Myles Lewis-Skelly and Nico O’Reilly — two of the best young full-backs — so the left-back spot is an opportunity, not a problem.
– Midfield: If Rice is asked to sit, Adam Wharton pairs well; if Rice advances, Elliot Anderson offers the physicality needed as cover.
– No 10: Bellingham and Cole Palmer are interchangeable; Marcus Rashford deserves a chance on the left if he keeps thriving in Spain.
Summary
Tuchel has a clear spine of Pickford, Guehi, Rice, Saka, Bellingham and Kane, but significant decisions remain over full-backs, a centre-back spot, the partner to Rice and who occupies the left attacking flank. March and June camps will be crucial for settling those positions ahead of the 2026 World Cup.