Tuchel keeps every England player on trial as he shapes World Cup squad with nine months to go

Thomas Tuchel has put virtually every player in England contention on notice as he experiments with personnel and tactics ahead of the World Cup, saying he does not expect a settled 23- or 24-player squad by the end of November or even March.

The England manager has called 37 players into three recent camps — 12 defenders, 12 midfielders, 10 forwards and three goalkeepers — and has used the limited time available to test formations, combinations and roles rather than lock on to a core group. Tuchel and assistant Anthony Barry have emphasised flexibility and said they will remain open to developments at club level as they map out selections with nine months remaining until the tournament in the United States.

Tuchel's approach was on display in England's 2-0 qualifying victory over Andorra on Saturday, a result that preserved momentum in the group but underlined questions about the quality of chances the team creates. England scored eight goals from four qualifiers while their combined expected goals stood at about 11. In Saturday's match, England's expected goals measured 2.21 against the world No. 174 side.

Harry Kane, who has six goals already this season for Bayern Munich, registered 12 touches in the match. Tuchel noted the side must become more ruthless in creating higher-quality chances rather than relying on finishing alone. The manager has also monitored minutes and availability, with John Stones and Adam Wharton absent from recent action because of injury.

Young players and returning figures have been given extended looks. Elliot Anderson, recently signed by Nottingham Forest from Newcastle, produced the clearest individual contribution against Andorra, nicking possession on the edge of the box and creating a second-half opening. Tuchel used Anderson and other midfield options to test counter-pressing triggers and positional rotation that the manager has been developing at St George's Park.

Competition is intense across forward positions. Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney and Dominic Solanke are among names Tuchel has evaluated, with Watkins appearing to edge forward in the pecking order despite a muted display at Villa Park earlier in the season. Tuchel said he will “be open to any development in any direction” as decisive club matches in the coming months could influence selections, and he indicated he knows “some players that I trust” but will not be fixed to a preordained squad.

Tuchel has also tested defensive options, starting Myles Lewis-Skelly at left back despite the Arsenal player being a backup at club level. Centre-back Dan Burn, who has featured under Tuchel, said the manager has “chopped and changed” and is still determining what he wants from players as the system evolves.

England face seven fixtures before a preliminary tournament squad must be named, beginning with a match in Serbia next Tuesday. Tuchel's use of expanded camps and rotation is intended to give him and his staff the clearest possible assessment across a broad pool of players despite limited training time with each.

The strategy carries trade-offs. Relying on a wide evaluation period reduces time to build cohesion among a settled unit, but Tuchel has argued that the international calendar and shifting club fortunes require adaptability. He has left open the possibility that rejuvenated club performances — including a return to form for figures such as Jack Grealish or breakthrough seasons for youngsters — could alter the look of England's squad as selections are finalised in the months ahead.

Tuchel's stance represents a deliberate test-and-measure approach in a campaign that culminates in a major tournament where last-minute changes and late inclusions are not uncommon. With the World Cup nine months away, every player called into England duty remains under evaluation as the manager balances experimentation with the imperative to secure results in qualifying and to prepare a coherent team for next summer.