- Thomas Tuchel takes charge of his first game as England manger vs Albania
- Kyle Walker is expected to start but one Three Lions regular is set to be benched
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Is England’s squad good enough to win the World Cup?
Thomas Tuchel is set to take charge of his first game as England boss on Friday night in the Three Lions’ opening World Cup qualification game against Albania at Wembley.
On Friday morning, it was reported that Morgan Gibbs-White, Jarell Quansah and Aaron Ramsdale had been omitted Tuchel’s inaugural matchday squad.
Now, it is believed that the ex-Chelsea manager is set to re-insert Kyle Walker in the starting XI, after the AC Milan right back was usurped by Trent Alexander-Arnold during Lee Carsley‘s tenure as interim boss.
Alexander-Arnold was unavailable for selection following an ankle injury he suffered during Liverpool’s penalty shootout defeat by PSG before the international break.
Walker beats out Newcastle’s Tino Livramento and Chelsea’s Reece James for the starting right back spot, as the ex Man City defender closes in on 100 senior caps for his nation, currently sitting at 93.
However, Marc Guehi, who was a regular starter at Euro 2024, is expected to be relegated to the bench.
Thomas Tuchel will take charge of his first game as England boss against Albania on Friday
Kyle Walker is expected to return to the starting XI over Tino Livramento and Reece James
But, Crystal Palace centre back Marc Guehi is set to be dropped from his regular starting role
Guehi started all but one game for England during last summer’s tournament, only being benched for the Three Lions’ penalty shootout win over Switzerland in the quarter-final.
However, on Friday, Tuchel is expected to prefer Levi Colwill and Ezri Konsa over the Crystal Palace centre back.
On Thursday, ahead of the start of what fans hope will be a successful reign, Tuchel delivered a damning assessment of England’s style under Gareth Southgate at Euro 2024.
Listing the ingredients missing, Tuchel said: ‘The identity, the clarity, the rhythm, the repetition of patterns, the freedom of player, the expression of player, the hunger. They were more afraid to drop out of the tournament in my observation than having the excitement and hunger to win.’
On what he wants from England instead, as they face Albania on Friday night and Latvia on Monday, Tuchel said: ‘I want that when the opponents come out and see our team lined up in the tunnel that they know, oofff, this is going to be tough, they will give us a hard time, these guys are individually good, they play in the best clubs but, oofff, these guys, they seem to be close friends, they seem to be ready to die for each other, this is going to be a tough time.
‘You can be sure that if I say something in a press conference, I have addressed it to the players. The players know my assessment (of Euro 2024) but it’s not even addressed backwards.
‘It’s addressed “what I want now”. The message is up front. I felt they were holding back – the group did not play with enough excitement and togetherness to make it happen.’