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The big questions for Tuchel's first England squad since World Cup - Published Sixty-five days after England's semi-final defeat by Argentina, Thomas Tuchel will name his first squad since the World Cup on Friday. While the tournament ultimately ended with a spectacular 6-4 win over France in the bronze-medal match, the Three Lions left the United States with a long list of what ifs. Now, with four games in the space of 11 days coming up during the extended international break, fans will get a glimpse of what Tuchel's next England side might look like. Could players like Trent Alexander-Arnold be recalled? Will others like Alex Scott make their debut? And how might we expect them to play? BBC Sport senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel, journalist Jess Anderson and BBC Radio 5 Live's John Murray go through the big questions facing Tuchel. Are some of the players overlooked for the World Cup likely to return and which new names may feature? Sami Mokbel: Rio Ngumoha and Lewis Hall are among the players to have been named in England manager Thomas Tuchel's provisional squad for the forthcoming Nations League internationals, though it remains to be seen whether they make the final cut. Liverpool winger Ngumoha was part of a contingent of young players that flew with the England senior squad for their pre-World Cup training camp in Palm Beach. He was unexpectedly handed his debut in the warm-up game against New Zealand, impressing in a second-half cameo. But the 18-year-old is yet to be picked in a full senior England squad - although he is in with a chance of being selected by Tuchel for the forthcoming games against Spain, the Czech Republic and Croatia. Hall's World Cup omission raised eyebrows given England entered the tournament without a natural left-back. Before naming his full squad on Friday, Tuchel is required to submit a preliminary squad of players from which he will name his final party. It is understood Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly and Everton pair Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jarrad Branthwaite are also among the names selected in Tuchel's extended list. Attacking duo Cole Palmer and Phil Foden are on there too, after being two of the biggest omissions from Tuchel's squad for the World Cup. That decision was deemed a mistake from certain circles, given they are two of English football's most creative players. Meanwhile, Tuchel is expected to omit Jordan Henderson, Dean Henderson and John Stones because of injury. - Tuchel regrets not eating Azteca turf after win over Mexico - Published2 days ago - FA to canvass England players in World Cup review - Published4 September Who is in the running to be back-up to Harry Kane? Jess Anderson: One of the most talked-about issues surrounding England is who they turn to in the absence of captain and star striker Harry Kane. At the World Cup, Tuchel simply did not turn to anyone. Kane started all seven of England's matches up to the semi-final and was substituted only twice - both times late on with the game already won. Kane was rested for the bronze-medal match, with Ivan Toney the preferred option, although the Al-Ahli striker did not score in the 6-4 win over France. Toney will not be an option this international break as he has since been charged with assault causing actual bodily harm and is due to appear in court later this month. Ollie Watkins' shock summer move to Saudi Arabia puts his England future into question, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the man in form with four goals in four games for Leeds United. This could be the moment for Tuchel to start to further integrate Liam Delap, who is improving at new club Nottingham Forest and has yet to make a senior England appearance. He scored his first goal for Forest in last weekend's win at Aston Villa. What can we expect from England? John Murray: In the immediate aftermath of the semi-final in Atlanta, Tuchel and the players spoke of being too passive. At the squad announcement it will be interesting to hear what conclusions Tuchel has reached on why that was the case, and how they came to surrender the initiative to Argentina from 1-0 up with just over half an hour to play. Head of the queue for a recall is Cole Palmer, who seems to have recaptured the form he was missing last season, which resulted in his omission from the World Cup squad. What England fans will want to see against Spain at Wembley, is Palmer and his like taking the initiative and imposing themselves on their opponents in a way that was so lacking in the latter stages against Argentina in July. Will England be happy they have such tough matches lined up? John Murray: Happy or not, that's what they've got - but this has to be better than another group of qualifiers such as the one they had for the World Cup, against teams way below them in the world rankings. In those matches last autumn England played some of the best football they have so far produced under Tuchel. But, while that helped establish patterns of play and build confidence, you never really know until you face the best. That clearly will be the case from the outset in the Nations League, with this opening match against the new world champions. These matches will also provide preparation for the next Euros in 2028 when, assuming they qualify, England will be playing opponents like this at Wembley. And, lest you forget, this tournament does provide an opportunity to win a trophy which would be the best possible way for Tuchel and his team to step on from their third place at the World Cup. What do we know about the mood in the camp after the World Cup? Sami Mokbel: This will be a key theme to watch over the next three weeks. The spirit was high in the England camp during the World Cup - as evidenced by their brilliant victory against Mexico in the last 16 with 10 men. But the devastating semi-final defeat by Argentina, and questions over England's approach as a 1-0 lead became a 2-1 loss late on, led to some form of an inquest in the England camp into what was to blame. Away from the height of those emotions in July, the Football Association is completing a review into England's World Cup campaign. The FA has been keen to stress that this assessment is a standard process, rather than an indication of wider concern or alarm about England's third-place finish. Indeed, key figures at the FA view the tournament in which England achieved their best finish since 1966 as a success, and the organisation has already backed Tuchel before the Euro 2028 qualifying campaign. Tuchel and members of his backroom team gave their contributions to the review at St George's Park in late August. England players' opinions are also being gathered before a report is presented to senior bosses at the FA. The ongoing review will also look into the impact of the team's permanent Kansas City base during the tournament. After every game, they returned to Kansas City - and the effects of the travelling will be analysed. The content of the review won't be made public, but the next three weeks will give an indication of whether the camp is still as together as that night at the Azteca. Related topics - Published3 days ago - Published11 hours ago - Published2 days ago
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