England - the future....

[stealthpapes]

Andy Carroll's scoring some belters right now.

[Sutekh]

Just for the record, England’s first two 2026 WC qualifier games are Albania (h) on 21 March followed by Latvia (h) on 25th March.

[Sanguine]

Of all the things I might have been expecting from Tuchel's first England squad, the return of Jordan Henderson was not on my list. Or anyone's list, surely?



Rashford and Reece James also back, the latter maybe owing to TAA's injury. First call-ups for Myles-Skelly and Dan Burn. I'm surprised that Kyle Walker's England career has not ended with Gareth Southgate's.

[Sanguine]

In fact I'll go out on a reactionary limb here - if Southgate is still in charge, Morgan Gibbs-White makes that squad, and maybe Elliot Anderson too.

[Sutekh]

Burn? He’s 32, bit unusual to get a first England call up at that age these days. Still, actually think he deserves it.

Are England that short up front that Rashford still gets a call up?

[Winston Biscuit]

Henderson in and no room for Wharton. LOLWUT?!

[Hendo]

But Southgate was the problem!

[bcubed]

On a positive note, he is showing he is his own man and obviously doesn't care what other people think

[Hendo]

Henderson in and no room for Wharton. LOLWUT?!

Wharton in the U21s.

[Sutekh]

Henderson in and no room for Wharton. LOLWUT?!

Wharton in the U21s.

Thought he was about 25

He’s only 21

Reportedly Liverpool, ManU and Real Madrid are all after him, wonder if Palace will sell in the summer

[Winston Biscuit]

forwards in the Under 21 squad are all PL except Jay Stansfield from League 1 who has 9 non penalty goals this season

[Carnabyswhiskers]

When Tuchel took over at Chelsea he left out of his first squad (from memory v Wolves at home) all the players he did not personally know and went with experience. At the time Chelsea's best player - Mason Mount - was left frustrated on the sideline and only introduced in the second half, making an immediate impact and becoming a first team regular. I wonder whether this squad is framed in the same way (Lewis-Skelly apart). Dan Burn: having watched him regularly for the last 4 or 5 seasons I am astonished at his selection. Small, mobile forwards of which international football is full are a problem for him: this season Kluivert of Bournemouth was all over him, last year Hudson-Odoi and Elanga of Forest (and if I thought about it for longer I would probably come up with a couple more; here's one: Bobby Decordova-Reid). My pick would have been Branthwaite or Timori. Bet Tuchel proves me wrong.

[Hendo]

Morgan Gibbs-White called up to the full squad.

[Sanguine]

Morgan Gibbs-White called up to the full squad.

Wonder if he will be in Tuchel's ear - his best mate is Angel Gomes of Lille, who featured, and impressed, under Carsley.

[Pepe the Horseman]

"They were more afraid to drop out of the tournament than having the excitement and hunger to win it"

Tuchel definitely saying the right things. I'm excited about tonight.

England 0 Albania 1.

[6ft Kerplunk]

When Tuchel took over at Chelsea he left out of his first squad (from memory v Wolves at home) all the players he did not personally know and went with experience. At the time Chelsea's best player - Mason Mount - was left frustrated on the sideline and only introduced in the second half, making an immediate impact and becoming a first team regular. I wonder whether this squad is framed in the same way (Lewis-Skelly apart). Dan Burn: having watched him regularly for the last 4 or 5 seasons I am astonished at his selection. Small, mobile forwards of which international football is full are a problem for him: this season Kluivert of Bournemouth was all over him, last year Hudson-Odoi and Elanga of Forest (and if I thought about it for longer I would probably come up with a couple more; here's one: Bobby Decordova-Reid). My pick would have been Branthwaite or Timori. Bet Tuchel proves me wrong.

We have absolutely no depth at left back. Burns getting picked is a bit like Chris Powell getting picked for Sven's first England squad. Sometimes you just need to pick a square peg for a square hole, the fact he can cover left back and left centre back probably helps. I doubt he'd have been in if Lewis Hall had been fit.

[Hendo]

When Tuchel took over at Chelsea he left out of his first squad (from memory v Wolves at home) all the players he did not personally know and went with experience. At the time Chelsea's best player - Mason Mount - was left frustrated on the sideline and only introduced in the second half, making an immediate impact and becoming a first team regular. I wonder whether this squad is framed in the same way (Lewis-Skelly apart). Dan Burn: having watched him regularly for the last 4 or 5 seasons I am astonished at his selection. Small, mobile forwards of which international football is full are a problem for him: this season Kluivert of Bournemouth was all over him, last year Hudson-Odoi and Elanga of Forest (and if I thought about it for longer I would probably come up with a couple more; here's one: Bobby Decordova-Reid). My pick would have been Branthwaite or Timori. Bet Tuchel proves me wrong.

We have absolutely no depth at left back. Burns getting picked is a bit like Chris Powell getting picked for Sven's first England squad. Sometimes you just need to pick a square peg for a square hole, the fact he can cover left back and left centre back probably helps. I doubt he'd have been in if Lewis Hall had been fit.

Sven's first England squad:

David Seaman (Arsenal), David James (Aston Villa), Richard Wright (Ipswich), Nigel Martyn (Leeds); Rio Ferdinand (Leeds), Phil Neville (Manchester United), Gary Neville (Manchester United), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Sol Campbell (Tottenham), Michael Ball (Everton), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Ashley Cole (Arsenal), Ugo Ehiogu (Middlesbrough), Chris Powell (Charlton); Kieron Dyer (Newcastle United), David Beckham (Manchester United), Paul Scholes (Manchester United), Steve McManaman (Real Madrid), Joe Cole (West Ham United), Michael Carrick (West Ham United), Frank Lampard (West Ham United), Ray Parlour (Arsenal), Gavin McCann (Sunderland), Nicky Butt (Manchester United); Nick Barmby (Liverpool), Emile Heskey (Liverpool), Michael Owen (Liverpool), Robbie Fowler (Liverpool), Andy Cole (Manchester United), Teddy Sheringham (Manchester United), Kevin Phillips (Sunderland).

[Sanguine]

Non-goals Harry Kane stat - his appearance against Albania was his 104th cap, which takes him into the top-10 all-time for England. If he plays every match he'll be fifth on 109 when Wales visit in October, and will surely comfortably go past Shilton's record in the next couple of years.

Also - Marcus Rashford started on Tuesday, but he has come on as a sub for England 34 times, and is approaching Jermain Defoe's record of 37 substitute appearances.

And - Tammy Abraham has the most England caps without ever playing a full 90 minutes (11). Both Callum Wilson and Eberechi Eze are on 9, so far.

[Sanguine]

I don't know how I feel about Jordan Pickford. He has 73 caps now - by the end of this qualifying campaign he will go past David Seaman (only 75!), Joe Hart (75) and Gordon Banks (73) and become our second most capped goalkeeper behind Peter Shilton.

I think he is a brilliant shotstopper and our best current goalkeeper. But I don't think he'll particularly be remembered for much.

[Sutekh]

I don't know how I feel about Jordan Pickford. He has 73 caps now - by the end of this qualifying campaign he will go past David Seaman (only 75!), Joe Hart (75) and Gordon Banks (73) and become our second most capped goalkeeper behind Peter Shilton.

I think he is a brilliant shotstopper and our best current goalkeeper. But I don't think he'll particularly be remembered for much.

Time wasting and aggression aside?