Seventy-seven days until a clash with Croatia in Dallas and the battle for a small number of spots within Thomas Tuchel’s England squad has yet to reach a definitive conclusion.
The draw against Uruguay and defeat by Japan should focus minds ahead of the season run-in, when a few still remain on trial before Tuchel announces his 26 heading off to the World Cup.
Tuchel experimented with different players and gave new caps across the two friendlies and opinions on who should make the squad will vary wildly up and down the country.
Here, Daily Mail Sport looks at the runners and riders, who is certain of their spot among our picks and which talents are nervously looking over their shoulders.
ON THE PLANE
By my reckoning, there are 21 guaranteed spots among the squad. Thomas Tuchel claimed after Japan that he had ‘clarity’ on some but in truth, to an observer there are now more questions than answers.
Uruguay last week and then Tuesday night only served to further indicate the major drop-off between England’s very best – Harry Kane, Declan Rice – and the rest. The level of performance without the main protagonists was another eye-opener.
Tuchel is correct when he says any team in world football would miss Kane yet it became even clearer over five days how integral it is England manage him properly in America. One wrong move, one injury scare, and the goalscoring threat disappears.
The defensive areas seem to have sorted themselves out in a far more controlled fashion. Eight would definitely make my squad, while remaining mindful of the fitness issues surrounding John Stones after the Manchester City defender pulled up with a calf problem.
The same goes for Reece James, while Harry Maguire has to earn a spot despite the manager’s suggestions to the contrary a few days ago.
Three goalkeepers – Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson and James Trafford – should all be there. Alongside Rice, Jude Bellingham and Elliot Anderson are certainties. Morgan Rogers will push for a start and Jordan Henderson acts as the everyman who did impress against Uruguay.
That is 16 down. Now it becomes interesting. Definite, non-negotiables are: Kane, Anthony Gordon, Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka. Tuchel loves Noni Madueke, so for the sake of argument he is in there too.
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford
Defenders: Marc Guehi, Lewis Hall, Ezri Konsa, Tino Livramento, Harry Maguire, Nico O’Reilly, John Stones, Reece James
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, Morgan Rogers
Forwards: Harry Kane, Anthony Gordon, Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke
IN THE DEPARTURE LOUNGE
Standing room only in here. Overly crowded and everybody’s hot and bothered, waiting to hear if it’s their name called from the standby list.
For a squad that looked well set a fortnight ago, requiring a couple of them to just turn it on slightly in one of two friendlies, there is a state of confusion abound.
No fewer than 17 stars are left wondering what may happen to them. Some due to a dip in performance, others because they’ve unexpectedly risen to prominence. Are the March friendlies really the time to be tinkering? Whatever you may think of that, it’s happened and means the pool of who could head to that pre-tournament camp in Florida has grown.
These 17 are now split in two, with 12 still holding realistic hopes of going to fill just four spots in our team. First at the back, Djed Spence and Ben White wondering if they can force a way beyond any of the four full backs picked. White has to have a chance, otherwise putting him through Wembley’s jeering will have proven a fruitless exercise.
Either could stake a claim if we choose nine defenders, which is likely what Tuchel will go for but may be overly cautious for our squad. Trevoh Chalobah has been talked up.
Central midfield is interesting and James Garner is a little bit of a joker in this respect. Able to play right back too and having impressed on Friday, he made a late dash through security and could alter how many defenders are named. Did Kobbie Mainoo really do enough, exposed for Japan’s winner? Tuchel has reservations over Adam Wharton but we like his ability to pick a lock.
Then the forwards. Dominic Solanke is the like-for-like Kane replacement but doesn’t carry anywhere near the same threat. Perhaps a Kane-less England ought to try a different approach, as had been the plan with Phil Foden and Cole Palmer filling the central striker positions on Tuesday.
Both Foden and Palmer appeared to flatter to deceive on their final audition. There seems to be an expectation that both should be regularly beating five men and stick it top corner. Palmer doesn’t seem fit, Foden’s confidence on the floor. The former gave away too much cheap ball and the latter’s nice knitting of play is only noticeable if he then does damage in little pockets of space.
Neither came away from the camp having enhanced their chances, especially in the court of public opinion, while there should also be a question mark over Marcus Rashford. Lively on Friday without having created much and it must be a worry that he’s started only one of Barcelona’s last eight games.
All told, Ollie Watkins didn’t have such a bad international week, did he?
Defenders: Djed Spence, Ben White, Trevoh Chalobah
Midfielders: Adam Wharton, Kobbie Mainoo, James Garner
Forwards: Marcus Rashford, Jarrod Bowen, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Dominic Solanke, Ollie Watkins
ON THE BEACH
Five of them can lay down the towels. Aaron Ramsdale wasn’t given any minutes so Trafford has won that battle for third choice. Fikayo Tomori’s distribution wasn’t incisive against Uruguay, while Dan Burn only featured for seven minutes and that begs the question of whether he is actually trusted by the manager.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s missed chance on Friday will haunt him sadly and Harvey Barnes was a wildcard whose run has come a little too late.
Goalkeeper: Aaron Ramsdale
Defenders: Fikayo Tomori, Dan Burn
Forwards: Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Harvey Barnes
