Tuchel’s baffling squad selection scuppers England’s World Cup hopes

Sports bettors planning to wager on the 2026 World Cup this summer have been handed a major pointer about which team won’t win the tournament.

England are rated as third favourites to lift the trophy on most reputable sports betting apps, with only France and Spain ahead of them in the betting.

However, several baffling squad selection decisions by manager Thomas Tuchel have probably blown a hole in England’s chances of winning the World Cup.

Tuchel defends his controversial squad

Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Morgan Gibbs-White and Harry Maguire are amongst the players who Tuchel has overlooked for this summer’s tournament.

The England boss has defended his final 26-man line-up, claiming that he has put the team’s needs before individual reputations.

“I think from day one we were very clear that we are trying to select and build the best possible team, which is not necessarily to select and collect the 26 most talented players,” Tuchel said.

“Teams win championships – it is as simple as that. What we are trying to achieve in the summer can only be achieved as a team.”

“We chose a very balanced squad – we chose three goalkeepers. We chose nine defenders for four positions, seven midfielders for three positions, and seven strikers for three positions.

“I can assure every fan in the country that we have 26 100 percent committed players in camp with us, who know their role, who are ready to buy into their role, on and off the pitch, who are ready and committed to the idea of team spirit and being unselfish.”

In fairness to Tuchel, several of the players he has left at home can probably not quibble about their omission from the squad.

Palmer and Foden have been poor for their respective clubs, and England have a plethora of options in those positions.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s omission is unsurprising, although you would be hard-pressed to get too excited about Dan Burn and Djed Spence featuring instead.

Harry Maguire has every right to feel aggrieved at being overlooked in favour of Jarell Quansah, while Ivan Toney’s inclusion is a major surprise.

Wharton’s omission is baffling

Tuchel’s most baffling selection is in midfield, where Jordan Henderson is rated as a more viable option than Adam Wharton.

Henderson is reportedly good in the dressing room, which is corporate-speak for saying he will be in North America this summer as a cheerleader.

The 35-year-old has barely played for Brentford in recent weeks, yet Tuchel thinks he has a role to play for the Three Lions.

Given that Henderson has rarely pulled up any trees throughout his England career, his inclusion in the squad is an affront to common sense.

By contrast, Wharton has been a standout performer for Crystal Palace this season, helping them reach the Europa Conference League final.

His ability to pick out passes that other players don’t see would be an invaluable weapon for England, but Tuchel has decided that his face doesn’t fit.

A quick look at England’s potential route to the final highlights why Tuchel may ultimately regret the decision to leave Wharton at home.

If they win their group, the Three Lions could potentially face Norway, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Spain in the knockout stage.

Finishing second in the opening phase could generate a pathway containing Colombia, Spain, Belgium, France and Argentina.

Whichever road they head down, Henderson will not be a game-changer against any of those teams. Conversely, Wharton can unlock elite-level defences.

As decisions go, Wharton’s omission is a real head-scratcher.