England s happy troubles, the All-Star lineup is overcrowded, and Manchester City s star may not qualify for the World Cup

The England team is one of the best-performing teams in the European region of this World Cup qualifier. They won all 6 games in this group and became the first European team to advance to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. However, despite the joy, England head coach Tuchel has faced happy troubles. The England team's luxurious All-Star lineup is already overcrowded. Who to take or not to take to the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico will become the main problem that troubles Tuchel in the next half year. Including Manchester City's Prince Foden, as well as Rashford, Alexander-Arnold, Walker, Henderson, Maguire and Grealish and other stars may miss the World Cup.

The biggest and most valuable player on this list is Manchester City's Prince Foden. Foden used to be England's absolute main force without a doubt, but now he has lost his main position in the England team. The 25-year-old Foden has played 45 times for the England team and contributed 4 goals and 9 assists. However, after Tuchel became the England coach, he only started and came off the bench once in the first two games. Since then, he has been excluded from the England squad for 6 consecutive games. Not only is he behind Saka, Bellingham and Rodgers in the England team's offensive midfielder (winger) pecking order, but even Palmer, Eze, Gordon and Madueke are ahead of him. However, as the most skilled player in the England team, Foden still hopes to go to the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The second surprising name is Rashford, the former crown prince of Manchester United. After being loaned to Barcelona this season, Rashford contributed 3 goals and 5 assists in 10 games and performed well. He has played 66 times for the England team and contributed 18 goals and 6 assists, including 6 appearances under Tuchel and scoring 1 penalty kick. However, his positioning and role in the England team are gradually declining. From starting the first three games but being replaced midway through, to coming on as a substitute in the second half of the last three games, it can be seen that Rashford is dispensable to the current England team. Rashford's performance in Barcelona this season is obviously better than that in England. If he can bring the club's form to the national team in the remaining time, he is still very likely to participate in the World Cup.

The third name is even more surprising, that is Alexander-Arnold, the former Liverpool prince who joined Real Madrid this season. Although Alexander-Arnold was the club's ace player during Liverpool's time and was also a regular player in the England team, he was always outshone by Walker and Reece James. Especially after Tuchel became the England coach, Arnold only played 26 minutes for the England team and became completely a marginal figure on the team. After moving to Real Madrid this season, Arnold's performance disappointed Tuchel even more. With Reece James basically determined to be England's main right back, Arnold can only compete with Walker for a substitute right back spot.

Speaking of Arnold, we have to talk about Walker. After the 35-year-old Walker moved to Burnley this season, he became the team's main right back. He has played 7 times for the team so far this season, starting every game and playing the entire game, and he is in excellent form. But the England team's starting right back during the Southgate era was supposed to retire from the national team after the last European Cup to make way for Reece James and Alexander-Arnold, but he stayed on for one more year. Now that England is at its peak of talent, Konsa and Spence can also play as right backs, and Walker's appearance record for England is likely to stop at 96 games.

The next one is also a 35-year-old veteran, currently playing for Brentford midfielder Henderson. In today's overcrowded England team, it is a miracle that the 35-year-old Henderson can be selected multiple times. Now he may still participate in the World Cup with the team, but many media have called on Tuchel to give more opportunities to young people. Henderson's advantage lies in his leadership and prestige in the locker room. He is also one of the four captains appointed by Tuchel. The other three are Kane, Rice and Stones. They are all England's absolute main force, only Henderson is not.

The 32-year-old Manchester United center back Maguire was once England's best choice for the center back position. He has played 64 times for England and contributed 7 goals and 2 assists. His aerial ability and never-say-die fighting spirit in the game were once the key to the England and Manchester United teams turning around the situation. However, as he grows older, Maguire has gradually lost his position in both Manchester United and the England team. He was not selected for the squad due to injury on the eve of the 2024 European Cup, and has not been selected for the England team since then. Today, although center back is the most short-term position in the England team, I am afraid that he is not on Tuchel's consideration list.

After being loaned to Everton from Manchester City this season, the 30-year-old Grealish ushered in the second spring of his career. He contributed 1 goal and 4 assists in 9 appearances for the team and became the core of Everton's offense. However, even so, he may not be selected for the England team again. In the friendly match between England and Bosnia and Herzegovina in June 2024, Grealish came on as a substitute for 27 minutes in the second half. This was also his last appearance for the England team. Grealish, who has never been selected for Tuchel's team, may not have a chance to play for England in the World Cup.

In addition to the above players, players such as Ivan Toney, Watkins, Bowen, Madueke, Gibbs White, Gallagher, Walton, Menu, Loftus-Cheek, Danburn, Spence and Luke Shaw may all compete for the same position due to status reasons or competition. The competition was too fierce to be selected for England's World Cup roster, but one person was an exception, that is, the 19-year-old left back Lewis Skelly. He made his England debut in the home game against Albania on March 21, 2025, and scored a goal. Skelly has played 6 times for the England team so far, including 5 starts and 1 substitute. He is the left back with the most starts under Tuchel.. But even so, Lewis Skelly may still not be able to participate in the World Cup, because he has been on the bench at Arsenal this season. He has only made 5 substitute appearances so far this season, averaging only 19 minutes per game. If he cannot maintain his form through the league, his position in the England national team may also be replaced.

There are still seven or eight months between now and the start of the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. It seems a bit too early to discuss the England team's roster. As the 2025-2026 season progresses, the England team may have more outstanding players, and some players will miss the World Cup due to injuries. It can only be said that the current England team is full of talents, which is really the envy of other teams. For Tuchel, it is really a happy trouble.

Note: The picture comes from the Internet.