In our weekly series, the Mirror’s Chief Football Writer John Cross gives his England player ratings after Thomas Tuchel’s men’s final friendly matches at Wembley – and offers his verdict on the 26-man squad
It was not the international break the England boss was hoping for(Image: 2026 Robin Jones)
Thomas Tuchel did not get the results he wanted – but the World Cup picture probably looks a lot clearer now.
Tuchel named a split squad of 35 for the two final Wembley friendlies with Uruguay and Japan. And, to put it bluntly, if you did not make that list without a decent excuse… then you are probably nowhere.
So, at least it has allowed us to trim down our World Cup probables and rankings with a few notable exceptions.
Reece James was injured and the Chelsea defender is undoubtedly one of Tuchel’s favourites and, if he is fit, then he surely starts at right back.
Tuchel made the centre half pecking order very clear… Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, John Stones and Trevoh Chalobah (injured this time) are ahead of Harry Maguire. Maguire was excellent against Uruguay and surely should be further up the queue as a personality and a reliable campaigner.
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Dan Burn did not get a name check but we know that Tuchel likes him as a character, he is a big presence and could be a threat from set-pieces.
Ben White made his first England appearance in three-and-a-half years and was both hero and villain as he got booed in the Uruguay game. White scored, conceded a penalty and yet came through it all. He did not play well against Japan in the second game but did show he can play centre back, right back and, from a place where he had no chance, he now does have a chance.
He can definitely go down as a big winner from this camp along with Marcus Rashford who started against Uruguay and came on and made an impact from the bench against Japan. Lewis Hall also came on and did well as a substitute against Japan.
The first game felt like an audition for a few players. James Garner excelled against Uruguay and has surely given himself a chance. He looked busy, good on the ball and Tuchel even referred to him as England’s “mini Valverde.”
Dom Solanke divided opinion but I thought he held the ball up, laid it off well and was good all round. Dominic Calvert-Lewin missed a big chance – in every sense. I still think Ollie Watkins should be in the picture as back-up for Harry Kane. Danny Welbeck is playing well enough.
But of all the players, we did have to look at Phil Foden who did not take his chance in either game – and was hooked before the hour mark both times.
Foden started centrally as a No10 in the first game and then as a false nine in the second. Neither worked and, sadly, it looked like he could be the biggest casualty this summer.
Rather than judge each performance, we’ll class the big winners, the losers and also pick our squad and starting XI.
Winners
- Harry Kane – England looked lost without him
- Marcus Rashford
- Harry Maguire
- James Garner
- Ben White
- Danny Welbeck – Absence makes the heart grow fonder
- Jude Bellingham – You understand his quality when England are missing him
Losers
- Phil Foden
- Djed Spence
- Fikayo Tomori
England Player Ratings – Their chances of making the plane
After the disappointment of both friendlies, a look at how things now stack up in the relevant positions – who are on the plane, who still have work to do and who are facing World Cup heartbreak.
Goalkeepers
- Jordan Pickford 10
- Dean Henderson 9
- James Trafford 8
- Aaron Ramsdale 7
- Jason Steele 6
Defenders
- Marc Guéhi 10
- Ezri Konsa 9
- John Stones 8
- And Burn 7
- Trevoh Chalobah 6
- Harry Maguire 6
- Jarell Quansah 6
- Fikayo Tomori 4
Right backs
- Reece James 9
- Tino Livramento 8
- Ben White 7
Left backs
- Lewis Hall 8
- Nico O’Reilly 8
- Djed Spence 6
Midfielders
- Declan Rice 9
- Elliot Anderson 9
- Jordan Henderson 7
- Kobbie Mainoo 7
- James Garner 7
- Adam Wharton 6
- Alex Scott 5
No.10s
- Morgan Rogers 9
- Jude Bellingham 9
- Cole Palmer 8
- Mercy of the King 7
- Phil Foden 6
Right wingers
- Bukayo Saka 9
- Jarrod Bowen 7
- Now Maduek 7
Left wingers
- Marcus Rashford 8
- Anthony Gordon 8
Strikers
- Harry Kane 10
- Ollie Watkins 7
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin 6
- Dominic Solanke 6
- Danny Welbeck 6
England’s 2026 World Cup kits
England and Nike have launched the new home, away and goalkeeper kits to be worn at this summer’s FIFA World Cup. You can get free delivery on all orders with the code: ENGFREEDEL
MY SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS 3: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford.
DEFENDERS 8: Reece James, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, Tino Livramento, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Nico O’Reilly, Lewis Hall.
MIDFIELD 7: Jude Bellingham, Elliot Anderson, Morgan Rogers, Declan Rice, James Garner, Alex Scott, Kobbie Mainoo.
FORWARDS 8: Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, Ollie Watkins, Jarrod Bowen.
My England starting XI: Pickford; James, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Rashford; Kane.
Do you agree with John Cross? Have your say with our England Squad Slider – in or out – below
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