Tuchel is set to unleash an unprecedented partnership and Rashford’s redemption

The second international break of the season has officially arrived, and while that may spell a lot of disappointment for many, it gives us the perfect opportunity to take a closer look at… Thomas Tuchel‘s England a team.

The former Chelsea boss has delivered plenty of surprises during his tenure so far, recalling Jordan Henderson and Ruben Loftus-Cheek as well as making the first call-ups for Elliot Anderson and others. Now, it looks as if a lot of his favorite team’s players are starting to participate in the World Cup in about six months.

What should certainly worry the likes of Jack Grealish and Phil Foden, who once again missed a call-up, is the fact that Tuchel made just one change from the September squad during this month’s international break.

This certainly gives us plenty to watch out for again in the games against Wales and the World Cup qualifiers against Latvia.

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Midfield partnership between Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice

Since Kalvin Phillips withdrew from the English competition, the Three Lions have had a problem in midfield alongside Declan Rice. For a long time, the aforementioned duo were the heart of Gareth Southgate’s midfield. They sat deep and provided the foundation for England’s best attacking players to flourish, and that’s when they achieved some of their greatest success – reaching the Euro 2020 final.

With England failing to clear the final hurdle once again at Euro 2024 – this time against Spain – it was clear that balance was missing from the midfield in the absence of a clear partner for Rice. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Coby Maino and Judd Bellingham all tried for the role, but all failed. Now, a new competitor has emerged under Tuchel.

Elliot Anderson shone during the September international break, and his partnership with Rice is something to keep an eye on this time around. If it proves as successful as last time, the Three Lions may have an unexpected answer to their problem.

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How will Lewis Skelly respond to Tuchel’s warning?

Tuchel has certainly not been afraid to say what he thinks so far and the latest to discover this trait is Miles Lewis Skelly. The Arsenal man has struggled to make it into Mikel Arteta’s strongest side so far this season, and has been warned it could cost him his World Cup place if things don’t change soon.

It makes the games against Wales and Latvia crucial for Lewis Skelly. Although he has not been given the opportunity to impress for Arsenal this season, the defender should look to take full advantage of Tino Libramento’s injury to ensure he earns a starting place under Tuchel in the coming months.

Whether it’s 22-year-old Livramento or 19-year-old Lewis Skelly, the battle for a claim for the starting left-back position looks set to heat up as the World Cup approaches.

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Red Hot Kane to continue his ruthless streak

There were some opinions at last year’s European Championship that Harry Kane was no longer the right man to lead England’s attacking line. The striker, who has been plagued by injury throughout the tournament, often struggled to make his mark and saw Cole Palmer, Ollie Watkins and others steal the show.

Now, at the age of 32, some might have expected the former Tottenham Hotspur striker to continue those struggles before he was gradually forced out of Tuchel’s side. However, the truth is that Kane is neck and neck with Erling Haaland as the best striker in the world – even at 32 years old.

Any suggestions that he is no longer good enough to lead England are long gone. Instead, the question most often asked about the striker these days is how many goals he will score. In his last 10 appearances for Bayern Munich, he has scored an incredible 18 goals and looks set to continue that relentless streak with the Three Lions.

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Nico O’Reilly Tuchel faces an unexpected dilemma

Although it’s easy to complain about the international break, it has provided 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 made the role his own under Pep Guardiola, no easy task, and he now has the unexpected opportunity to do the same for England.

Tuchel has already shown his willingness to not only give new players their chance, but also give them a permanent place if they impress enough. Anderson has so far benefited from that, Loftus-Cheek could do so, and O’Reilly could be next in line to cause England manager selection headaches.

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Has Rashford done enough to start?

After regaining his place in the England national team, Marcus Rashford will now have all eyes on a starting spot. Last month, it was Noni Madueke who surprised many with his performance.

This time, Rashford can take his form with Barcelona to the England camp. No longer the outcast Manchester United star, the winger is back to his best on Spain’s biggest stage.

England have often missed his direct approach from the left side, but his form simply did not warrant a starting place. Having scored three goals and assisted a further five in eight games for Barcelona, ​​the 27-year-old has arguably done enough to break into Tuchel’s strongest side against Wales and Latvia.