With just over a year to lead a world cup that Thomas Tuchel has been hired to win, it was encouraging to hear him draw a line in the sand in the long term of how he will approach business from Club versus Land. In terms of some of his actual selections, the logic of the English manager is not always so easy to follow.
Tuchel admitted on a morning press conference at Wembley that he had considered leaving those players involved in next month's club from the team for a qualifying match against Andorra and a friendly against Senegal at the beginning of June.
Both games could – and probably – be won without Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer and others.
Nevertheless, they will be with England and they will stay with England in the coming camp. That is completely correct. It is not Tuchel's fault that the calendar continues to cram with more and more club football. International football must be played at a certain moment and Tuchel has only five camps between now and its own World Cup 2026 in America.
“We will start camping with 26 players and finish the camp with the same 26 players,” said Tuchel.
“That's the decision. I see the argument for some players to leave early and maybe change the team or even nominate a team without World Club Cup players.
“The decision was open in all directions and it was discussed. But very quickly we realized that it is one of the five camps and only a year to go. Why send players away who we want to worship and cherish every day that we are together? What signal would that send to the group to send players away?
'I see the argument of the clubs that would like to see their players a little rest, but we have a strong argument for ourselves and for our goals that we want to achieve. We want to build a comrade and togetherness and that is only possible if we take every game seriously and that is why we keep the group together.
'The players know and the clubs know. We will of course try to manage the minutes of the players. '
Tuchel's team is not without his curiosities. Fortunately, he bent for the request of Phil Foden for a rest, but it is more difficult to understand the exclusion of players as Jarrod Bowen who was in his first team and the gifted midfielder Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace, who is already being asked in Stone.
And then there is Ivan Toney. Now that his football played in Saudi, the former striker of Brentford has received his first Tuchel call on the back of his songs for Al-Ahli after the national coach admitted that he has not yet traveled to see him play live.
“Ivan deserves to be with us,” said Tuchel.
“I am convinced. He has won a large trophy in the Asian Champions League and has made a huge contribution with his goals and assists.
“I told you that I would try to visit Saudi Arabia in my schedule, but I didn't make it, why wouldn't you take him and let him travel to us?
'This is a good opportunity to meet new players and test new players and meet Ivan and see him in the area. We have nominated three nr. 9s with Harry Kane and Ollie Watkins.
'Dominic Solanke deserves to be here, but he has already been to the camp. I know what he can do. Watkins and Toney were not both with us last time, so that explains the decision. '
Tuchel's approach to squadron selections often seems a bit contradictory, on the one hand that suggests the merits of the construction of consistency and solidarity and suggests that some players – such as Solanke and Manchester United -defender Harry Maguire – have already been omitted because he already knows what they can do for him.
Ben White has missed another chance for a call, because he is about to become a father for the first time, while Marc Guehi van Crystal Palace is not in the team on medical advice after an injury to his eye in the FA Cup final last Saturday.
In terms of Ajax midfielder Henderson, however, Tuchel remains unambiguous. That specific hill is one on which he is clearly willing to die from.
“If you have training exercises in different groups, the group where Jordan is … you can just turn your back on,” Tuchel said.
“He will take care of all the standards in that group. Jordan is vocal and a natural leader. He has a spark. That is what he is good at. He does it in a very impressive way and still plays at a decent level.
“I understand the question. But once you meet Jordan and see Jordan and speak with Jordan, it is such an obvious choice.
'Your perception is far away from my perception, but I understand. This is not Adam Wharton versus Jordan Henderson. What Jordan brings to the group cannot bring a player under 21.
'It is impossible in terms of personality and experience. Jordan is more than happy to take on the challenge. He wants to present, not gifts. '
Why an English team with players such as Bellingham, Kane, Kyle Walker and Decan Rice so desperately need leaders, remains a puzzle. Tuchel, however, seems to be convinced.