Thomas Tuchel will be Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer and Jude Bellingham without important players when he mentions his team for the qualifications of September in September, but familiar faces will insist on a recall as preparations for the following summer.
The June camp ended in embarrassment for Tuchel and England, where the team was decidedly defeated by Senegal after an overwhelming 1-0 victory to Andorra.
But with the most difficult qualifying test in England – their journey to Serbia on September 9 – in this next double header and subsequent international breaks in October and November, Tuchel enters a crucial part of his project to win the World Cup in North America in 2026. His team, called on Thursday, should reflect that.
This will be his most substantial block training and playing time with his team for the tournament – assuming that England is complete what now looks like a simple qualification – and also a period in which players will strive for clear roles in the plans of the head coach. The time to experiment is over.
It is therefore important that players who have missed, are fit and available for players who have missed the previous team, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Marc Guehi, Luke Shaw, Marcus Rashford, Ollie Watkins and Phil Foden. Rashford, like Trent Alexander-Arnold, has no shimmering start for life in Spain, but both seem ready to be involved.
Jack Grealisk will also hope that his two assists for Everton will help push him back in the context. His recording or absence will be an important talk point anyway.
Mason Mount can feel that his prospects to add to his 36 caps are on the rise after his involvement for Manchester United this term and the long chat he had with Tuchel after the defeat of the opening weekend against Arsenal.
His United teammate Shaw also enjoys his football again, after a few injuries destroyed seasons. Interesting is that Myles Lewis-Skelly, who had arrived left-back for England, started both Arsenal matches on the couch. Djed Spence has meanwhile helped Tottenham to quickly start his versions at the left.
Adam Wharton, Tino Livramento and Liam Delap – who missed the last camp because of the U21 Euro, although Delap connected to Chelsea at the World Cup club instead – could be with the seniors this time.
But will Delap Surprise Summer Pick look at Ivan Toney? Dominic Solanke will also wait for a recall after he was omitted in June, despite helping Tottenham to a Europa League success.
Tuchel made the trip to Slovakia to see the youth team win the euros and it will be intriguing to see if other members of the Lee Carsley group are impressed. Jarell Quansah has previously had a call-up from Tuchel and scored after his victorious summer with the U21s on his Bayer Leverkusen debut.
Elliot Anderson is also one of the young lions who probably gets a scream, with a central midfield still a mystery. The lack of playing time of Kobbie Mainoo at Manchester United will certainly count against a player who is once seen an important figure to become in the middle of the park in front of his country.
James Maddison will certainly not be involved, given his resignation of injuries, while Levi Colwill is another for the long term.
It also probably looks that the international absence of Ben White will continue, with the right back – which has finally made itself available for selection in the summer – the game of Arsenal last weekend with injury. Conor Gallagher – a favorite of Tuchel's at Chelsea – has so far played just over an hour of football for Atletico Madrid.
In the goal, Jordan Pickford remains the clear no. 1 with Dean Henderson and James Trafford also called for the last outing. They are expected to deputify again. Aaron Ramsdale has since moved to Newcastle, but is currently behind fellow countryman Nick Pope in the club pecking order.
Shall we get the strange surprise? Tuchel has thrown it up in every team he has mentioned so far – but it is expected that a clearer idea of ​​his primary world cup candidates will arise with his selections this week.
Dowman is considered for youth promotion in England
Latest of Sky Sports News' Rob Dorsett:
The coaches of the FA youth team are considering promoting Max Dowman to the U19 team in England after his impressive debut for the first team of Arsenal against Leeds United on the weekend.
The 15-year-old wing player is off 16 times at the U17 level, scored five international goals and was an important member of the U17 team of England in the summer and started each of their three European champion races.
Now there is a possibility that he will jump a different age group, as recognition for his progress in senior football. But to make that happen, because he is still a minor, it will need the agreement of both his family and arsenal.
His development will be carefully managed – by club and country. His teammate Ethan Nwanieri -the only Arsenal player who made his Premier League debut at a younger age than Dowman -was promoted to the U21's of England in March, at the age of 17 -after careful consideration of his willingness. He became an important player in front of Lee Carsley when they retained their euro crown in June, with all six games.
The feeling about Downman, Sky Sports News has been told, is similar – because many in the FA feel that he is now ready to go to the U19s, but more discussions will be held before a definitive decision is made.
Mikel Arteta has no doubt about Downman's family tree, and his hunger for big competitions and says after Saturday's game with Leeds: “There is a child here who has zero hesitation and is so convinced that he can go at the age of 15, which I have never seen in my life. For us he brings joy, he brings emotion and something else so well.”
The teenager has been involved in the junior teams of England for several years and makes his international debut for the U16s – and then the U17s – in 2024. However, the FA and Arsenal are aware that he still has to take his GCSEs next spring and because of his age he cannot play Champions League football until January 1, 2026.
Dowman stood out in the preseason, came out of the couch on various occasions and impressed Mikel Arteta with the impact he had made. That led the Arsenal -Baas to record him from the Emirates on Saturday -albeit with his side up 4-0. In addition, in 15 years and 234 days old, Dowman became the second youngest player to stand up for Arsenal.
Dowman immediately aroused the home crowd with a number of runs through the right wing on Saturday and won the penalty in stopping time that Gyokeres converted for 5-0.