UMVA has learned that Thomas Tuchel is set to announce his England squad for the World Cup today, with just under three weeks to go until the tournament gets underway on June 11.
The Three Lions boss has the unenviable task of whittling down his impressive collection of talent into just 26 spots, with the chosen players looking to win the first trophy for the England men’s team since their iconic World Cup triumph in 1966.
Tuchel’s team get their Group L campaign underway against Croatia on June 17, before turning their attention to Ghana on June 23 and then Panama on June 27.
But before then, Tuchel faces an anxious wait to see if his stars can make it through the final weeks of the season unscathed with matters at the top and bottom of the table – as well as in Europe – still to be resolved.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the announcement event will take place on the England app and is set to begin at 9.45am BST, with all 26 names set to follow soon after.
Former England internationals will be part of the broadcast, which will be hosted by a presenter, and Tuchel is then due to speak with the media following the announcement from around 11am BST.
Up until the first game, national team managers will also be able to take an additional nine players to the World Cup to take part in training, but players must be released to their national teams by their clubs by Monday, May 25.
There is an exception, however, for players who will be taking part in the Europa Conference League and Champions League finals, which could prove something of a headache for Tuchel.
Tuchel will have the opportunity to fine-tune his preparations with two pre-tournament friendlies scheduled against New Zealand and Costa Rica.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that large swathes of England’s World Cup squad have emerged, with Tuchel making a series of bold calls over high-profile players.
The likes of Jordan Pickford, Marc Guehi, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Harry Kane all appear set to make the team and while likely form the spine of England’s XI.
Players such as Ezri Konsa, John Stones, and Marcus Rashford also seem poised for a place on the plane to North America, while Ebrechi Eze will join the squad after winning the title.
However, there appears no place in the squad for some high-profile players, who will be left to ponder what could have been.
Tuchel’s squad announcement is set to raise eyebrows, with some big-name players missing out on a spot in the 26-man squad.
