How Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad would look if he used the Squawka Score

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How Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad would look if he used the Squawka Score

Thomas Tuchel has named his first squad as England manager.

England get their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign under this month, with games at Wembley against Albania and then Latvia. And there was a lot of anticipation over Tuchel’s first squad, with fans wondering whether he would start a revolution straight away.

Tuchel has named a 26-man squad for the two qualifiers, with a couple of big inclusions. The biggest talking point is perhaps the inclusion of Newcastle United defender Dan Burn, who receives his first ever international call-up at the age of 32.

There is also a return to the set up for Marcus Rashford, who has found form since moving from Manchester United on loan to Aston Villa. Myles Lewis-Skelly comes in as a left-back option, while Reece James is also back after injury.

“They’ve had very different pathways to the first call-up,” Tuchel said of Lewis-Skelly and Burn.

“We accelerate Myles’ career again which is already on fast track. He’s a regular starter and a regular player for Arsenal at the moment. He’s nothing but impressive.

“He will now skip the under-21s which would be a regular pathway for him but due to injuries and due to the flexibility that we want to have in our squad and due to his capability, quality and game time recently, he deserves to be with us.”

Confirmed England squad​

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson, Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, James Trafford

Defenders: Dan Burn, Levi Colwill, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Ezri Konsa, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Tino Livramento, Jarell Quansah, Kyle Walker

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze, Jordan Henderson, Curtis Jones, Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Morgan Rogers

Forwards: Jarrod Bowen, Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Dominic Solanke

England Squawka Score squad​

So that’s Tuchel’s first England squad. But who have been the best English players in Europe’s top seven leagues? Using the Squawka Score, which is based on the statistical leaders for metrics relevant to their positions, we’ve picked a 26-man England squad for the March international break. We’ve focused on English players in Europe’s top seven leagues, currently available for selection (not injured or retired internationally), with at least 1,000 minutes for their club this season. There are a few differences to Tuchel’s roster.

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Goalkeepers


There aren’t too many top English goalkeeping options in Europe’s top seven leagues, with the usual suspects all showing up. Dean Henderson is the top-performing goalkeeper, with a Squawka Score of 67%. That’s aided by 0.2 goals prevented per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season, among the better records in the division. Jordan Pickford ranks second with a Squawka Score of 66%, with Aaron Ramsdale completing the trio on 63%. For those curious, James Trafford has a Squawka Score of 65% for his goalkeeping with Burnley in the Championship this season.

Defenders

With Trent Alexander-Arnold injured, Aaron Wan-Bissaka becomes the highest-rated English right-back in Europe’s top seven leagues. The West Ham United man has a good Squawka Score of 70% despite the Hammers’ struggles this season. He’s yet to earn a senior call up for England, representing the Young Lions up to the under-21 level. Wan-Bissaka has won an impressive 61.29% of his ground duels in the Premier League this season. If Tuchel used the Squawka Score, Ashley Young would also earn a recall — having never officially retired from international football. The Everton man, still going strong at 39, has posted a Squawka Score of 69% this season.

Left-back English options aren’t great, especially when looking at those who are fit in Europe’s top seven leagues with enough minutes. Rico Lewis has been utilised more as a left-back for England, so would get into the squad on this side, with his Squawka Score of 68%. The Manchester City man has averaged 4.69 passes into the final third completed per 90. There would also be a first call up for Brentford‘s Keane Lewis-Potter thanks to his Squawka Score of 61%.

At centre-back, it’s a mixture of regulars and a few lesser seen names. Chelsea‘s Tosin Adarabioyo is the top-scoring English centre-back in Europe’s top seven leagues right now, boasting a Squawka Score of 73%. The 27-year-old averages 2.66 aerial duels won per 90 in the Premier League this season, and just 0.33 challenges lost. He sits ahead of Jarrad Branthwaite on 67%, including a ground duel success rate of 73.36%. Marc Guehi (65%) and Harry Maguire (64%) are also in, with Lewis Dunk (61%) completing the set. But, again, a quick look to the Championship for CJ Egan-Riley who has a Squawka Score of 70%.

Midfielders

For midfield, we’re following the England squad announcement and counting No.10s among the midfielders as opposed to the attackers. And we’ve gone for two of each of our Squawka Score sections — DM, CM and No.10.

Jordan Henderson sits top of our DM Score with 70% for his performances in the Eredivisie with Ajax. The veteran has averaged 1.45 interceptions retaining possession in the league this season, alongside 9.59 passes into the final third completed — placing him in the 95th percentile and above among central midfielders. Lewis Cook and Conor Gallagher join Henderson, both posting 61%. Gallagher has averaged 1.82 tackles won per 90 for Atletico Madrid in La Liga, while Cook has won possession 2.74 times in the defensive third per 90 for Bournemouth in the Premier League.

It will be interesting to see what kind of system Tuchel plays, and whether there’s a need for more natural central midfielders. Jude Bellingham is the top-scoring English central midfielder in Europe’s top seven leagues with a Squawka Score of 67%, aided by his 0.26 goals from open play and 0.26 intentional assists per 90 for Real Madrid. Declan Rice also gets in with 62%, with his role at Arsenal being a bit of a strange one that isn’t really suitable to one position.

Cole Palmer is perhaps the most unsurprising choice as a No.10 coming in with a Squawka Score of 80%, thanks to his 0.52 goals per 90 and 1.55 shots on target. He’s joined on 80% now by James Maddison, who has averaged 0.24 intentional assists per 90 and 0.31 Expected Assists.

Forwards

There are a fair few injuries for England when it comes to their top-scoring wingers, but Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens would have deserved a spot. The 20-year-old has a Squawka Score of 73%, the most of any fit English winger in Europe’s top seven leagues. He has completed 4.1 take-ons per 90 in the Bundesliga this season, alongside 0.39 goals. Phil Foden also makes it in with 68%, posting a non-penalty Expected Goals on Target of 0.32 per 90.

We’ve then got a Newcastle duo to complete our wingers, though the attack would obviously be more fluid. First is Anthony Gordon (64%) with his 6.28 penalty area entries per 90 in the Premier League to help the Magpies challenge for European football. Then there’d be a first senior England call up for Jacob Murphy, who has provided 0.43 assists during open play per 90 this season.

Up front, unsurprisingly Harry Kane is the top-scoring English striker with a Squawka Score of 85%. The Bayern Munich man has averaged 1.07 goals per 90 in the Bundesliga this season, from 0.47 non-penalty xG. Dominic Solanke also makes our squad, with a Squawka Score of 65%, which is a bit of a fall off from Kane. But the Tottenham Hotspur man has averaged 0.46 non-penalty xG per 90. But just ahead of him is a more surprising name in Danny Welbeck (66%). The Brighton and Hove Albion striker has averaged 0.43 goals per 90 in the Premier League this season, with a shot placement ratio of 1.03.

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