Tuchel's conundrum at No 10
England have an abundance of playmakers vying for the No 10 role but with Thomas Tuchel saying he won't "take five No 10s into a tournament" a high-profile name - or names - will be left disappointed on Friday. It will be the toughest and potentially most significant decision Tuchel makes.
Jude Bellingham is locked in, despite Tuchel's past comments about the Real Madrid star, while Morgan Rogers has been a standout performer for the England boss. It would be a shock if the Aston Villa ace was jettisoned now.
Then comes the tricky bit. Cole Palmer has underwhelmed in a season disrupted by injuries but can conjure up game-changing moments of magic. Eberechi Eze also carries the X-factor and, like Palmer, his ability to play from a wider starting position may help his case. Even if they don't start, Tuchel would surely prefer to have Palmer and Eze as options to open up a tight game this summer than not.
This selection will also be about timing and while Eze has delivered his customary spring surge, Morgan Gibbs-White is the form player of the lot. His World Cup prospects looked to have vanished when he was left out of March's expanded squad but is now playing the best football of his career. Too little too late or another one of his perfectly timed runs?
That must all be worrying for Phil Foden. His backheel assist against Crystal Palace was a fleeting reminder of his technical skill but when Pep Guardiola no longer trusts him in the big games, why should Tuchel? He has been given numerous chances this season by the England manager, including in a false nine role as a potential alternative should something happen to Harry Kane. But making the case for Foden off the back of this campaign - and with memories of his disappointing contribution during the last Euros - is a hard one to argue for. He looks most likely to be the one left behind.
Peter Smith
England's 16 'guarantees' for World Cup squad
It feels like there are 16 "guaranteed" selections for Thomas Tuchel's World Cup squad, based on those who have been mainstays since he took charge.
Don't expect Tuchel to name a standby list. He and his assistant Anthony Barry know that should there be any injuries, replacements can be made up to 24 hours before England's opening game against Croatia.
I expect Tuchel to go with five centre-backs and five central midfield players. The heat in North America and Mexico, together with the likelihood of yellow and red cards in those most combative of positions – it makes sense. That'll be a boost to the hopes of Harry Maguire, John Stones and Jarrel Quansah, as well as Kobbie Mainoo, Adam Wharton, Conor Gallagher and James Garner.
Ollie Watkins isn't guaranteed a spot in the squad, but his return to form has come just at the right time. Ten goals in his last 11 Aston Villa matches – making it 20 for the season - mean he is pushing very hard for the berth of Harry Kane's understudy. You cannot underestimate the value of his goal two summers ago, that sent England to a Euros final in Berlin.
The other thing worth mentioning is that the focus of the media and the fans around the squad announcement is inevitably around the fringe players - those who may be included, those who may miss out. That is inevitable. And it's exciting.
However, if we have learned anything from the tournaments of the last decade, England's fringe players have been exactly that. James Maddison was the central focus of England's last World Cup squad, for Qatar in 2022. There was a clamour for his inclusion. Southgate did give him the nod. He didn't play a single minute at the tournament.
That's why those 16 'guarantees' probably hold the key to England's chances of winning the World Cup in the US. Even though they will barely get a mention on Friday.
Rob Dorsett
Who will be Kane's understudy?
Imagine this – it's a World Cup semi-final. England are drawing 1-1 and need a goal to reach the final. Harry Kane is exhausted and needs to come off – who does Thomas Tuchel turn to?
That is a scenario likely keeping the German up at night, as well as the possibility of any Kane injury. Tuchel tickled with his No 9 options in the last international break, but there was nothing to relay any fears of what England do without Kane.
Dominic Solanke and Dominic Calvert-Lewin both started but failed to grab their chance. In fact, the Leeds striker was sent home before the Japan friendly, while Solanke is unlikely to make the summer squad due to injury.
But fresh off his Europa League final victory, Ollie Watkins will likely be earmarked as the understudy.
He was not included in the March squad and since then has gone on somewhat of a revenge tour to bid for his place. He has scored six Premier League goals in seven matches, as well as goals in the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the Europa League.
And despite his England showing two months ago, Calvert-Lewin continues to be in good form for Leeds, scoring in four of the last five league matches.
Could veteran Danny Welbeck be in with a chance of a call-up? It has been mooted as a possibility, and Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has said he can have a key role in helping the Three Lions this summer.
The 35-year-old has made the most number of starts in the Premier League of his career (25) and is Brighton's top scorer with 14 goals in all competitions.
Whether that will be enough to dislodge the likes of Watkins in the pecking order, only Tuchel knows. But being the reliable goalscoring substitute will be key if England are to lift the World Cup.
Charlotte Marsh
Which central midfielders will Tuchel pick?
Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson are Thomas Tuchel's two untouchables in central midfield. Predicting who will accompany them is less straightforward. The obvious contenders for the three back-up roles are Jordan Henderson, Adam Wharton, Kobbie Mainoo, James Garner and Alex Scott.
Henderson's England career appeared over when he was left out of the last Euros by Gareth Southgate. However, Tuchel sees the 35-year-old as crucial, naming him in every single one of his squads. In what could be his seventh major tournament, Henderson brings experience.
Garner, Mainoo and Wharton all made the expanded 35-man squad in March which, in theory puts them ahead of Alex Scott, however his impressive late season form in Bournemouth's current 17-game unbeaten run could change that.
It would come as a surprise if Garner made the cut ahead of Mainoo and Wharton. Tuchel, however, has shown how much he likes the Everton midfielder, describing him as England's mini-Federico Valverde after Garner made his international debut against Uruguay. His ability to play right-back might help.
One player to watch is Myles Lewis-Skelly. The Arsenal youngster's late season form in his natural position of holding midfielder – playing there rather than at left-back for the first time in senior football – makes him a wild card heading into the announcement.
Zinny Boswell
Why Tuchel must be careful about his right-back choices
Reece James is as fit as he has been for a long time. He has already made more Premier League appearances than any of the last five seasons.
But is he ready to play eight games in 33 days? Almost certainly not. James has not started more than four club games in a row for Chelsea in more than three years, and has missed game time through injury four times this season - though three of those were only minor niggles.
The problem is whether James breaks down during the tournament. He has been unavailable for at least eight Chelsea games in a row, the duration of a World Cup, at some point of each of the last three seasons.
Given Thomas Tuchel cannot predict when his next breakdown may occur, he needs oven-ready alternatives. There is a Trent Alexander-Arnold-shaped elephant in the room at this point, but Tuchel's approach will have to change considerably to bring him in from the cold after being left out of each of the last four squads.
In the Real Madrid right-back's absence, he tested out two other options across the March internationals in Tino Livramento and Ben White, even handing the latter his first call-up in more than three years.
But both are now injured, with White ruled out of the World Cup and Livramento absent for Newcastle's last four games and also likely to miss Sunday's final game at Fulham.
It leaves the head coach with a conundrum. If he takes a half-fit Livramento as back-up, he risks doubts over both of his right-back options given the Magpies full-back has missed more than half of this season through injury.
That raises the question whether Djed Spence, currently on the Spurs fringes but at least largely injury-free all season, could be his best option. The 25-year-old was called up to the March internationals and did start against Uruguay... At left-back.
There is no perfect answer to who will go as James' number two, less than a month out from the World Cup. And given the very likely possibility they will be required to play some - or all - of the tournament, that is far from ideal.
Ron Walker
Could Maguire and Stones be part of the centre-back group?
The short answer is yes. Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa are close to being nailed-on as starting centre-backs bar any last-minute surprises. So it is all about the supporting cast Thomas Tuchel chooses for the World Cup.
Harry Maguire was one of the winners from the March international camp, looking assured at the back, and has continued to be reliable for Manchester United.
Thomas Tuchel has previously talked down Maguire's chances of making the World Cup squad, saying he is still fourth or fifth on his list, but after starting in 14 of the last 16 Premier League games - only missing out due to suspension - it is hard to foresee him not making it to the USA.
For John Stones though, the picture is less certain. He has missed much of his final season at Manchester City due to injury and the good form of his team-mates, including Guehi.
He has played just 361 minutes of Premier League football this season, with five appearances in Man City's victorious cup campaigns - although did not play in either final.
Stones last played for Tuchel against Wales in October. He was called up in March and was on the bench against Uruguay, but missed out against Japan due to injury.
He will be in Tuchel's thinking, but it is touch and go about whether he will be included in the final squad.
Whatever the decision may be, it will likely be the final World Cup for both - and they will want to go out on a high.
Charlotte Marsh
Bowen or Madueke to be England's fourth winger?
England's fourth winger spot appears to be a straight choice between Jarrod Bowen and Noni Madueke to play the role of back-up to Bukayo Saka on the right.
Bowen, chosen in every past Tuchel squad, would have been considered a lock a few months ago. His late season form for West Ham, however, has created uncertainty around his inclusion. The forward, without a goal in his last 13 Premier League games, has looked a shadow of his former self.
However, Tuchel has shown a lot of faith in Bowen, who offers flexibility across the forward line and could be used through the middle if the worst happened and Harry Kane picked up an injury, although he is not the only one in a squad likely to include Gordon and Rashford.
Madueke has the benefit of having shown he can be a more than able deputy to Saka over this season, playing a crucial role stepping in when Arsenal's star boy has been out of form or injured, and that could come into Tuchel's thinking. He's a Premier League winner now after all.
This selection is a toss up for Tuchel, who may well include both. England fans will hope, whoever is chosen, that they are not required too often. Otherwise, it will mean Saka is injured. This is a supporting role.
Zinny Boswell
Who will be the big-name omissions?
It seems highly likely Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luke Shaw will be two that miss out on a place in Tuchel's squad on Friday.
The pair were reportedly included in the 55-man longlist, but Alexander-Arnold's last cap came in a World Cup qualifier against Andorra last June, while Shaw featured last during the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.
And even though Ivan Toney has 42 goals and 10 assists in 48 games for Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli, he has not played since a friendly against Senegal in June last year.
Question marks remain over Cole Palmer, too. He has scored 10 goals in all competitions this season, with only half of those non-penalty goals. He did play against Uruguay and Japan in March, but injuries seem to have significantly affected his form this term.
Dan Long
What surprises does Tuchel have up his sleeve?
During his time as England boss, Thomas Tuchel has called up a total of 51 players. Some are obvious, others have caught people off guard.
Not many would've expected Ruben Loftus-Cheek to figure in any plans almost seven years after his last cap. Most assumed Ben White may never be back. And if one person put money on Jason Steele being called up as an unprecedented fourth goalkeeper, you'd have won some serious money.
The question is, what's his next big surprise? If Steele is included, that can be discounted. Tuchel has already explained his reasoning behind taking a fourth goalkeeper/coaching option. Could he instead offer first-time call-ups for someone out of the blue a la Sven-Goran Eriksson and Theo Walcott two decades ago?
The obvious comparison to draw there would be Max Dowman, who has at least played in the Premier League for Arsenal during their title-winning campaign. If you want to be more rogue, you can maybe look at Josh Acheampong or Archie Gray.
Mateus Mane has stood out for Wolves too. Albeit in a desperate season, Mane has looked bright and despite being a Portugal U21 international, is eligible through English citizenship.
Realistically, those are options to keep in mind for the next World Cup, or maybe even the one after that. The surprise that seems more likely, is someone having one last hurrah.
Neymar is getting that treatment in Brazil having been out in the cold. Could Danny Welbeck or Callum Wilson become the Neymar of the Three Lions?
After all, they do bring with them World Cup experience. For players who won't be expected to get a lot of minutes, that could be an incredibly useful tool.
Callum Bishop
