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England Manager Already Has Selection Headache Months Before 2026 World Cup

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Hartnett | Last updated Nov 12, 2025 2:36 PM ET

England national team manager Thomas Tuchel has stated that stars Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and Phil Foden cannot fit into the same team in his current system.

Tuchel has employed a 4-2-3-1 system ahead of next summer’s 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 52-year-old German prefers choosing the players who best fit his lineup over accommodating the most talented players available.

He told talkSPORT:

"At the moment, if we keep the structure, they cannot play," Tuchel said about playing Belligham, Kane and Foden together. “They can, but not in the structure, not for the balance that we developed. Not for the structure that also comes with wingers who are like specialists in their positions.”

Between now and next June, Tuchel will have to make some tough decisions in determining his final squad for the 2026 World Cup.

"At the moment, we play with a No. 6, a No. 8, a No. 10 and a No. 9. There is a lot of congruence, especially in the No 10 position, if you think about Phil can play there, you think about Jude, you think about Morgan Rogers, who played fantastic for us in this position. You have Cole Palmer, you have Morgan Gibbs-White, so there is a lot of players and there is the chance that we will not take everyone.

“Not because we don't like [them], not because they don't individually deserve it, but we will always do what's best for the team. We will always do what's best for winning, we will always do what's best for balance and we will try to keep the clarity, even if it means that we have to take tough decisions. We take tough decisions in any camp and this will not change when we go to a tournament."

Tuchel was appointed as England manager on Jan 1. He became the team's third foreign coach following Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.

England’s Current Selection Problem Feels Familiar

England's Sven Goran Eriksson chats to Steven Gerrard, David Beckham, Frank Lampard and Paul Scholes. (Photo by Mike Egerton/EMPICS via Getty Images)Mike Egerton/EMPICS via Getty Images

Previously, Eriksson failed to incorporate star midfielders Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Paul Scholes together. Scholes retired from international duty in August 2004 following Euro 2004. At the 2004 tournament, Scholes was pushed to the left wing to allow Gerrard and Lampard to play together in central midfield.

Following Scholes’ retirement, Lampard and Gerrard were unable to strike up a successful partnership given their similar attacking traits.

While Tuchel stresses the importance of the team over individuals, the English media will be quick to criticize him if he cannot get the best out of England’s current generation and gets sent home early at the World Cup.

England qualified for the 2026 World Cup by winning Group K. The Three Lions will host Serbia on Thursday, followed by a trip to Albania on Sunday.

Since England has already booked a trip to the World Cup, Tuchel will have an opportunity to test out which players best mesh together in his 4-2-3-1 lineup.

As always, England expects, but will Tuchel deliver? We’ll find out next summer.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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