Sixty-five days after a dramatic defeat to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final, the England squad is set to open a new chapter. The tournament in the USA ended for Thomas Tuchel's team with a thrilling shootout against France in the third-place match (6-4), yet the 'Three Lions' returned home with a heavy heart and a long list of missed opportunities. Now, the German will announce his first squad post-tournament. Ahead lies a challenging schedule: four matches in eleven days in the Nations League, with Spain, Croatia, and the Czech Republic on the agenda. BBC Sport experts Sami Mokbel, Jess Anderson, and John Murray have dissected the key challenges for the national team's staff.
Who will Tuchel bring back and who is knocking on the door of the first team
Tuchel has already submitted a preliminary expanded squad to UEFA, from which he will form his final selection. Included in this list are the eighteen-year-old Liverpool wonderkid Rio Ngumoah and Newcastle's defender Lewis Hall. Ngumoah trained with the first team in Palm Beach before the tournament and made a bright debut in a friendly against New Zealand, coming on in the second half. However, he has yet to feature in an official matchday squad. The absence of Hall during the tournament raised eyebrows, as the team travelled to the World Cup without a specialist left-back.
Also included in the expanded roster are Alex Scott from Bournemouth, Myles Lewis-Skelly from Arsenal, and the Everton duo of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jarred Branthwaite. The big news is the return of Cole Palmer and Phil Foden. Their simultaneous omission from the World Cup was viewed by many as a gross error by the coaching staff, depriving the team of key creative forces. Meanwhile, Tuchel will have to do without John Stones, Dean Henderson, and Jordan Henderson due to injury. There is also speculation regarding a potential return for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Who will replace the irreplaceable Kane
One of England's sharpest dilemmas is finding a deputy for captain and top scorer Harry Kane. In the USA, Tuchel effectively ignored rotations at the centre-forward position, as Kane started all seven matches leading up to the semi-final, only stepping off the pitch a couple of times in the closing stages of resolved games.
In the bronze match against France, Kane was rested and Ivan Toney was brought in, yet the 'Al Ahli' forward couldn't find the net. Toney's call-up is now off the table as he faces criminal charges for inflicting medium bodily harm, with a court appearance scheduled for the end of the month. Furthermore, Ollie Watkins' summer move to Saudi Arabia has cast doubt on his prospects for the national team.
Given these circumstances, Dominic Calvert-Lewin stands out as a candidate for a call-up, having been in tremendous form for Leeds with four goals in as many games. Additionally, now might be the perfect time to assess Liam Delap, who is rapidly progressing at Nottingham Forest, where he scored the winning goal against Aston Villa this past weekend, although he has yet to make an appearance for the senior national team.
A change in mentality: from timidity to dominance
Immediately following the semi-final collapse against Argentina in Atlanta, both the players and Tuchel acknowledged the main issue: catastrophic passivity. With the score at 1-0 and thirty minutes remaining, the Brits voluntarily surrendered initiative and were punished for it. Fans expect the team to cease sitting back in their own half against reigning world champions Spain at Wembley. In such a structure, bold, aggressive leaders like Palmer are precisely what is needed to dictate terms on the pitch.
The grueling calendar with top-tier opposition is an excellent test of resilience. This is far more beneficial than breezy qualification groups against lower-profile teams, where England under Tuchel displayed promising football last autumn but were not truly tested in top clashes. Moreover, the Nations League presents an opportunity to compete for a prestigious international trophy while laying the groundwork ahead of the home Euro 2028.
Internal review within the Football Association
An ongoing topic of discussion is the microclimate within the dressing room. The atmosphere among the squad during the tournament was charged, as evidenced by their heroic victory over Mexico with ten men in the Round of 16. However, the missed victory against the Argentinians triggered a wave of internal investigations.
The Football Association of England is currently conducting an official internal review of the World Cup's outcomes. Officials claim this is a routine procedure, with the third-place finish at the World Cup being recognised as the country’s best result since 1966. Leadership remains fully confident in Tuchel as the qualifying campaign for the European Championship approaches.
The coaching staff has already reported to a commission at 'St. George's Park' at the end of August, and discussions are now being held with key players. Besides tactical assessments, experts are closely examining the logistical miscalculation — the team's continuous base in Kansas City, from where they flew to each match and returned, exhausting themselves with travel. The next three weeks will reveal whether Tuchel's charges have retained their former cohesion or whether the painful errors of summer have left deep fractures.
