The second international break of the season has officially arrived, and while that may be frustrating for many, it does give us the perfect opportunity to take a closer look Thomas Tuchelof England Team.

The former Chelsea boss has delivered plenty of surprises during his tenure so far, recalling Jordan Henderson and Ruben Loftus-Cheek and calling up the likes of Elliott Anderson for the first time. Now, it seems many of his favorite teams are starting to lock in on the World Cup, which is about six months away.

The likes of Jack Grealish and Phil Foden have again missed out on call-ups, and there should certainly be concern that Tuchel has made just one change to his September squad during this month’s international break.

It certainly gives us a lot to look at in the games against Wales and in the World Cup qualifiers against Latvia.

5

Midfield partnership of Elliott Anderson and Declan Rice

The Three Lions have had midfield problems alongside Declan Rice since Kalvin Phillips dropped out of contention for England. The aforementioned duo have long been the core of Southgate’s midfield. They dug deep and laid the foundations for England’s best attacking players to flourish, and it was then that they enjoyed some of their best success – reaching the Euro 2020 final.

When England failed again at the final hurdle at Euro 2024 – this time against Spain – it was clear that their midfield was unbalanced and there was no clear partner for Rice. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Coby Minor and Jude Bellingham have all tried and failed to fill the role. Now, under Tuchel, a new contender has emerged.

Elliot Anderson performed well during September’s international break and his partnership with Rice this time around is one to watch. If it proves to be as successful as last time, the Three Lions may find an unexpected answer to their problems.

4

How will Lewis Skelly respond to Tuchel’s warning?

Tuchel is certainly not afraid to speak his mind so far, and the latest person to discover this trait is Miles Lewis-Skelly. The Arsenal man has struggled to break into Mikel Arteta’s strongest squad so far this season and has been warned he could lose his World Cup spot if things don’t change soon.

This makes games against Wales and Latvia crucial for Lewis-Skelly. While he hasn’t had the chance to impress for Arsenal this season, the defender should make the most of Tino Liveramento’s injury and push for a starting spot under Tuchel in the coming months.

Whether it is 22-year-old Liveramento or 19-year-old Lewis Skelly, as the World Cup approaches, the competition for the starting position at left back seems destined to intensify.

3

Red-hot Kane looks to continue brutal winning streak

There were some views at last year’s Euros that Harry Kane was no longer the leader of England’s front line. The forward carried injuries throughout the game and often struggled to make his mark, only to watch as Cole Palmer, Ollie Watkins and others stole the spotlight.

Now aged 32, the former Tottenham Hotspur striker could continue to struggle before gradually drifting away from Tuchel’s side. However, the reality is that Kane is neck and neck with Erling Haaland as the best striker in the world – even at 32 years old.

Any suggestion that he was no longer good enough to lead England is gone. Instead, the question often asked about the forward now is how many goals he can score. He scored an incredible 18 goals in his final 10 games for Bayern Munich and looks destined to continue that brutal run of form for the Three Lions.

2

Nico O’Reilly creates unexpected dilemma for Tuchel

While it’s easy to complain about the international break, it did provide some memorable moments for the likes of Nico O’Reilly, who earned his first call-up following an injury to Reece James. The Manchester City left-back has come into his own under Guardiola, which has not been an easy feat, and now he has an unexpected opportunity to do the same for England.

Tuchel has shown that he is willing not only to give new players a chance but also to offer them a permanent spot if they impress enough. Anderson has benefited from it so far, Loftus-Cheek could do the same and O’Reilly is likely to be the next to cause the England manager a headache.

1

Is Rashford’s starting performance adequate?

Marcus Rashford now has all eyes on his place in the starting XI after reclaiming his place in the England squad. Last month, Noni Marduk surprised a lot of people with his performance.

This time, Rashford can carry his Barcelona form into the England camp. No longer the shunned Manchester United star, the winger has returned to his best form on Spain’s biggest stage.

England have often missed his directness down the left flank, but his form simply doesn’t warrant a starting spot. However, with three goals and five assists in eight games for Barcelona, ​​the 27-year-old is arguably good enough to join Tuchel’s strongest side against Wales and Latvia.