After a 60-year wait for major silverware and a World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina in Atlanta, Thomas Tuchel has used four Nations League fixtures to begin a full-scale rehabilitation of England. The German, who drew criticism for overly defensive tactics at the World Cup, has kept 33-year-old captain Harry Kane at the heart of the side. Kane won his 125th cap in the 3-0 win over the Czech Republic, drawing level with former goalkeeper Peter Shilton's all-time England appearance record, and took his tally to 91 goals, 38 more than Wayne Rooney's 53. A four-man attack has formed around the captain, with Anthony Gordon, now of Barcelona, Bukayo Saka, who struck twice in Croatia, and 23-year-old Jude Bellingham posing the greatest threat to opponents.
Competition for places is fierce. Chelsea playmaker Cole Palmer was named in the squad but withdrew with a minor muscle injury, and his replacement, Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White, even cut short a family holiday to answer the call. In midfield, Tuchel has uncovered genuine strength in depth. Bournemouth's Alex Scott, 23, was outstanding on his first England start in the 7-0 rout of Croatia, yet he had played through a thigh problem that forced him out of the Czech Republic game and is expected to sideline him for two months. With Arsenal's midfield leader Declan Rice absent, Elliot Anderson, signed by Manchester City for £116 million, and Everton's James Garner stepped in. "Is Declan still for me a fixed point in my team? Yes, but some other players are coming and impressing and it's an ongoing competition," Tuchel said when asked about the growing rivalry in midfield.
The key tactical turning point was the return of Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold. Back in May 2025, Tuchel had openly questioned his defending. "If he wants to have this impact in the English national team then he has to take the defensive part very, very seriously. Because when we are talking, especially about qualifying football, and then tournament football, the one defensive error, the one moment where you are not 100% awake, can be decisive. It can be the moment where you pack your suitcases and go home," the German warned at the time. Despite that hard line and his World Cup snub, Tuchel brought the defender back. The 27-year-old repaid the faith with the assist for Anthony Gordon's goal in Prague and a whipped 30-yard free-kick at Wembley that forced a save. On the other flank, Newcastle's 22-year-old Lewis Hall filled in at left-back after an injury to Manchester City's Nico O'Reilly, having recently extended his contract with the club until 2031. The well-drilled partnership between Hall and Gordon gave England fresh dynamism down the left, and it showed in the results: under Tuchel, England scored 14 goals across their four Nations League matches and kept three clean sheets.
