Tuchel keeps England squad under review with nine months to World Cup

Thomas Tuchel said no England player is safe from scrutiny as he continues to cast a wide net with nine months to go before the World Cup in the United States.

The Germany-born coach has called up a 37-player pool for three camps that preceded Saturday’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Andorra, and he signalled this week that he does not expect a settled 23- or 24-man squad by the end of November — or even by March. Tuchel has repeatedly stressed flexibility and said he will allow club form and other developments to influence his final selection.

Tuchel described the coming months as decisive. "There will be a lot of decisive matches involving English teams in club football," he said. "Of course I know some players that I trust and that I want to do good for us and for their clubs but we have to be open to any development in any direction." England face Serbia in Belgrade on Tuesday, the first of seven matches before a preliminary World Cup squad is due to be announced.

The current call-up comprises 12 defenders, 12 midfielders, 10 forwards and three goalkeepers. Several established names have not featured so far in camp: John Stones and Adam Wharton missed selection action because of injury. Tuchel has said the pool could expand further if form or fitness dictates, with players such as Jack Grealish and younger contenders able to force their way in over the coming months.

Tuchel’s approach represents a deliberate break from the more conventional method of identifying a core group early and refining it. He described his assignment as effectively an 18-month one to begin with and has leaned on the principle of freedom when picking squads, a policy that reduces certainty but widens the options available nearer the tournament.

The win over Andorra in front of an expectant home crowd was steady rather than spectacular and underlined some of the reasons for Tuchel’s caution. England scored twice but created opportunities of inconsistent quality; the team’s expected goals (xG) across four qualifiers stands at about 11 while the players have scored eight, indicating a shortfall in finishing and chance construction. Saturday’s xG figure was roughly 2.21 against a side ranked 174th in the world.

Harry Kane, England’s captain, finished Saturday’s match with just 12 touches — a low involvement that speaks to the limited penetration of England’s attacking play on the day. The figure was noted in comparison to Erling Haaland, who is often criticised for low touch counts but has sometimes registered similarly sparse influence in 90 minutes for Manchester City. Tuchel acknowledged the side must become "more ruthless" in creating chances as well as in front of goal.

One of the brighter elements on Saturday was Elliot Anderson, the former Newcastle midfielder now with Nottingham Forest, who seized on a loose ball at the edge of Andorra’s box to fashion a clear opening. Anderson’s pressing and energetic runs were in line with the tactical principles Tuchel has emphasised at St George’s Park, and the coach will watch how those traits translate in tougher matches, notably in Belgrade.

Selection decisions remain contested in several positions. Tuchel has examined forwards including Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins and Dominic Solanke, with Watkins said to be making a push for selection even after an injury scare at Aston Villa. Tuchel has indicated he prefers to see players up close in camp rather than rely solely on reputation or prior knowledge; teammates sense the manager is still refining what he wants from each role. "The manager's sort of chopped and changed," defender Dan Burn said. "I think he's probably still learning what he wants from his players."

Tuchel has also adjusted how he runs camps, lengthening some meetings and changing how coaching messages are delivered, after reflecting on a disappointing June. Those changes form part of a broader tactical reset aimed at reshaping how England move the ball and press opponents, but they have come with trade-offs: short-term disjointedness as a wider pool is evaluated, in exchange for a larger, more adaptable squad ahead of the World Cup.

With seven qualifiers and friendlies remaining before he must name a preliminary group, Tuchel is betting on incremental assessments across club and international fixtures. The manager’s willingness to keep players under review means the England squad that travels to the United States next summer could look very different from the one taking part in these early camps.