Three selection questions as stars face last chance to impress in pre-World Cup friendly

The Three Lions have one last chance to impress as they take on Japan in the final game before their World Cup preparation camp in June
England face Japan in another pre- World Cup friendly at Wembley as Thomas Tuchel gets one last look at his players ahead of naming the tournament squad in late May.

The Three Lions laboured to a 1-1 draw with Uruguay on Friday in a game that saw several fringe players start as they looked to stake their claims for a place on the plane to the USA.

But few made an impression on the night , with several big names – including Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Harry Maguire – all still fighting for selection.

And though Tuchel can now call upon the likes of Harry Kane after resting several key players last time out, it could be that the German opts for another experimental starting line-up as England take on a talented Japan side who beat Scotland on Saturday.

Follow all the latest team news and updates from Wembley below
Tuchel's major decisions - No.

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It’s so often the way the cookie crumbles.

Just a few days after Kyle Walker announced his international retirement , England’s first-choice right-back went down with a hamstring injury .

Any second thoughts, Kyle?

Reece James , one of the first names on the England teamsheet under Tuchel, will miss out on Friday’s squad.

It is not James’s first injury; in fact, in the last seven seasons, it is actually his 23rd different injury-related absence.

As such, whether James recovers or not, it is essential that Tuchel has a plan B for the summer.

Tuchel's major decisions - No.

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Tuchel has previously said Kobbie Mainoo has “the experience, the power, the quality, the talent” to be part of his squad but was lacking the time on the pitch to be considered for selection during Ruben Amorim’s time in charge of Manchester United.

Now he is back in contention, can he be the man to partner Declan Rice in the middle ?

Tuchel's major decisions - No.

1
Harry Kane will arrive at the World Cup as the world’s best No 9, but who figures behind him is Tuchel’s biggest puzzle.

During their eight-game qualifying campaign, 11 different players occupied the wide or attacking midfield positions but only one featured in every match: Morgan Rogers .

The No.

10 battle will see Aston Villa’s star man up against Jude Bellingham, though out wide the fight for a spot looks far less clear.

Here is a look at the options available to the manager.

Thomas Tuchel has sent eight players from his original squad packing - Stones, Wharton, Madueke, Rice and Saka due to injuries, while Tomori, Ramsdale and Calvert-Lewin are back with their clubs too.

But in the remaining 27-man roster is the nine-player core group that watched from the stands on Friday.

Captain Kane is back in contention, along with Dean Henderson, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, Dan Burn, Elliott Anderson, Morgan Rogers and Anthony Gordon, with England set for sweeping changes.

Predicted England XI: Pickford; White, Konsa, Guehi, O'Reilly; Anderson, Mainoo; Palmer, Rogers, Gordon; Kane .

Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka among eight players to leave England camp ahead of Japan game
England have confirmed that Arsenal pair Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka are among the eight players who will be dropping out of Thomas Tuchel’s squad ahead of Tuesday’s friendly against Japan.

Rice and Saka will be returning to the Premier League leaders for “medical assessment”, having only joined up with the England camp on Friday as part of a group of 11 players who had been rested for the 1-1 draw with Uruguay.

England’s Harry Kane has scored 10 goals across his last 10 international appearances, while he could score 2+ goals in successive matches for the national team for the first time since November 2021 against Albania (3) and San Marino (4).

Japan’s Junya Ito has four goal involvements across his last three matches (one goal, three assists) and could score in successive matches for the national team for the first time since September 2023 (run of three).

Thomas Tuchel names the four centre-backs ahead of Harry Maguire in England pecking order
England boss Thomas Tuchel has appeared to deliver a big blow to Harry Maguire’s World Cup chances by insisting he is still at least the fifth-choice centre-back.

Maguire looked to have strengthened his case for being on the plane to North America in the summer as he delivered a commanding performance on his return to the national team setup in Friday’s 1-1 friendly draw with Uruguay.

Tuchel names the four centre-backs ahead of Maguire in England pecking order
Japan are unbeaten in in their last seven matches against European nations in all competitions (W6 D1), winning each of their last three against Germany, Turkey and Scotland.

Indeed, they’ve won four in a row twice before in May 2009 and February 2013.

England have won just two of their last seven friendly matches (D2 L3), having won 12 consecutively between 2018 and 2023 beforehand.

But, the Three Lions have scored in their last 21 matches in all competitions since a 0-0 draw with Slovenia at Euro 2024.

It’s their longest scoring streak since a 32-game run between 1902 and 1910.

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