Wembley (foto: Unsplash.com)
England’s inconsistent form under Thomas Tuchel raises concerns ahead of the 2026 World Cup, with key players like Bellingham, Alexander-Arnold, and Foden facing uncertain roles.
England's preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup continued on March 27th as the Three Lions hosted Uruguay at Wembley. Thomas Tuchel fielded a much-changed side, more resembling the English C Team, as opposed to the one that will start their opener against Croatia in Dallas on June 17th. The result was a disjointed display in which the hosts could consider themselves lucky to escape with a draw.
The first 80 minutes under the arch provided very little action of note, but Ben White's opener from close range in the 81st minute saw the contest burst into life. The Arsenal man had been booed onto the pitch when he was substituted on, with his decision to walk away from the 2022 World Cup after a disagreement with former assistant manager Steve Holland firmly in the minds of England supporters. That was the start of his eventful cameo.
England Cling on at Wembley
Ten minutes after poking his side into the lead, White was on centre stage once again, conceding a late penalty after a controversial VAR intervention that manager Tuchel was clearly unhappy with post-game. Real Madrid's Federico Valverde duly slotted home and celebrated in front of the 2,000 fans housed in one small corner of Wembley. Seconds later, he thought he'd bagged the winner, only for defender Harry Maguire to arrive out of nowhere with a crucial goal-saving block that ensured England clung on to a 1-1 draw.
The performance did very little to inspire hope ahead of the summer, but online betting sites have clearly recognised that this was far from a full-strength England squad. As such, the latest Bovada World Cup odds remain unchanged: England 13/2 second-favourites, with Spain given top billing at 9/2.
With the World Cup fast approaching, Tuchel will have the bones of his England squad mapped out in his head. As he polishes the final touches, some of the Three Lions' biggest names have an anxious wait ahead of them. Here are three such stars.
Jude Bellingham
Two years ago, Jude Bellingham was England's golden boy. His goal against Serbia ensured that the Three Lions began Euro 2024 with a 1-0 victory. Then, in the round of 16, he turned saviour, netting a spectacular 95th-minute overhead kick against Slovakia to keep Gareth Southgate's side in the competition. Fast forward to now, however, and the Real Madrid man is far from a shoo-in in Tuchel's starting lineup.
Bellingham's form heading into those Germany-hosted European Championship shops was spectacular. 23 goals and 13 assists in his first season at the Bernabeu helped Los Blancos claim a famous La Liga—Champions League double. Since then, however, the downturn has been real. In 2024/25, he was forced to take a back seat to new arrival Kylian Mbappe, although he did still help himself to 15 goals after bursting into life in the second half of the season. This season, though, he has regressed even further.
The 22-year-old midfielder has been restricted to just 22 starts this season, with the most recent of them coming on the 28th of January. He scored just six goals all season, and as a result, national team manager Tuchel has been forced to pivot. Both Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer are thought to be ahead in the race to start in attacking midfield at the World Cup, quite the fall from grace considering Bellingham's untouchable status in the aftermath of Euro 2024.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
While Bellingham may well not be in line to start at the World Cup, his Real Madrid teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold might not be in England's squad at all. Former manager Gareth Southgate did everything he could to squeeze the former Liverpool right back into his starting lineup at Euro 2024. That didn't work, and Trent has fallen away ever since.
He controversially made the move to the Bernabeu from boyhood club Liverpool last summer, but he has spent much of his maiden season in the Spanish capital on the treatment table, dealing with various injuries. As a result, Tuchel didn't select him at all in his squad for the games against Uruguay and Japan, despite his selection of an expanded 35-man squad. Trent will have to prove that he is back to his best before the season is over to have any chance of getting a seat on the plane to Qatar.
Phil Foden
Phil Foden is another who has endured a disastrous plight since the summer of 2024. He was the Premier League Player of the Year in the build-up to that tournament, but since then, he has fallen down the pecking order with both Manchester City and England.
Foden started the recent clash with Uruguay, and signs of his lack of form were there for all to see. The attacking midfielder seemed either unwilling or unable to run at players like he was doing at will just a couple of years ago. Far too often, he received the ball in a good position, only to turn backwards or pass the ball sideways, killing all of England's momentum in the process.
When it comes to attacking midfielders, Tuchel isn't short on options. Rogers, Palmer, and Bellingham are all ahead of Foden in terms of securing a starting berth. Out wide, it's Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, and Noni Madueke that the Man City man finds himself behind. He has three months left to find his best form; otherwise, he may well spend the summer on the couch.