England’s football stars will begin a five-match audition Tuesday night in a race for a spot in the World Cup team. Three Lions manager Thomas Tuchel could secure qualification for next summer with a victory in Latvia, as players scramble to secure their place on the flight.
Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and other players such as Phil Foden and Cole Palmer are sweating on confirmation of their places for North America, with less than eight months until the tournament begins. Remarkably, England will now have just five matches – Latvia, next month’s final qualifiers against Serbia and Albania, and two Wembley friendlies next March – before Tuchel announces his squad.
Tuchel is encouraging intense competition to make his squad because it elevates the standard, and his selection for this camp to face Wales and Latvia has also made it clear that no one’s place is guaranteed.
England’s squad will be announced at the end of the season, and they are likely to have two warm-up friendlies after flying out to the United States before the tournament commences on June 11.
These matches are expected to take place in Florida, with Tuchel planning to take his players to a brief warm-weather training camp to prepare for the extreme heat and conditions of a US summer.
This means a hectic build-up to the World Cup, as any players involved in the Champions League final on May 30 in Budapest will almost certainly miss the start of any US training base and will have to join up later.
The final Premier League weekend is scheduled for May 24, leaving little time for a lengthy break before the tournament begins, unlike in previous years.
England’s World Cup opponents will be revealed at the draw in Washington on December 5. As one of the top seeds, Tuchel’s squad will be based in the United States.
While considering a warm-weather training camp, they have also explored other US-based training facilities for the remainder of the season, including those near Kansas City.
Potential friendlies next March with Japan and Uruguay are on the cards, but this will hinge on the draw.
England will aim to play against nations with a similar style to their group opponents and will avoid setting up matches against teams they will meet in the World Cup.
Tuchel and England are likely to forego the traditional end-of-season friendly on home soil due to the tight schedule.
Captain Harry Kane is expected to be fit to play against Latvia on Tuesday after missing last Thursday’s friendly with Wales due to injury.