England won three games in their lengthy Nations League camp, losing the other game to Spain; Thomas Tuchel’s side have breathed fresh life into their momentum after their disappointing World Cup exit, but some issues remain… It’s been a long international break for England. But it could be a pivotal one in Thomas Tuchel’s thinking. England’s four-game Nations League camp started with a defeat to Spain but ended with two wins over Czech Republic and a 7-0 demolition of Croatia.
But after countless withdrawals and changes to the squad, who is feeling more confident about their England squad status – and who is starting to look over their shoulder? Here are the winners and losers of the latest England squad… It turns out that Anthony ‘Barcelona’ Gordon is a thing after all. For so long, England’s left wing position was left open to debate.
Nobody really claimed it as their own, even at the World Cup just gone. Now the debate is over. That spot is Gordon’s for as long as he stays fit and firing. Three goals and one assist during this international break means the 25-year-old is at the peak of his powers.
That form is even more surprising given he is yet to get off the mark for Barcelona this term. It seems slightly odd to claim this international break a success for someone who has suffered a two-month injury during it. But Alex Scott is here to stay. In the 7-0 win over Croatia, Scott showed he belonged at that level, playing the Declan Rice role to perfection.
His understanding with Elliot Anderson also shone through. That will be crucial for him going forward, given the pair were the midfield pivot for the most recent Euros-winning England U21 team. It has worked for England at a major tournament before, it can work in the future. Scott’s emergence has given Tuchel a real rotation option in that role.
Tuchel’s first post-World Cup team selection had one major talking point. For the first time in nearly a decade, England played a big game without Jordan Pickford in goal. Was the decision to start James Trafford in goal against Spain the first sign of a changing of the guard in the England goal? Never before has an England goalkeeper had this big an opening to usurp Pickford.
After Trafford started the Spain and the Czech Republic games, Pickford returned to Tuchel’s line-up for the last two internationals. The No 1 shirt is not Trafford’s, but the fact this role is now somewhat shared is a huge plus for the Leeds ‘keeper. Do England finally have a left-back? Part of the Three Lions’ recent spike in form at left wing has a lot to do with Lewis Hall’s form down that flank.
After so many tournaments of inverted options and waiting for Luke Shaw to be fit again, England have a natural option on that side again. The Newcastle defender deserved the assist for Kane’s second goal against Czech Republic at Wembley. England look balanced on that side again, and if Hall can stay fit then the head coach has one less thing to worry about. So it turns out Trent Alexander-Arnold can play at right-back for England.
Two starts against the Czech Republic have got people talking about the much-maligned Real Madrid man in a more positive light again. Alexander-Arnold looks back to his best, showing his creativity in Prague but the way he stretched Czech Republic at Wembley was also impressive. He can play behind Bukayo Saka and impress. He can do the same with Morgan Rogers and also impress.
Is this the camp where Alexander-Arnold’s international career turned a corner? Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player This wasn’t a standout camp from the England captain, but it’s not gone unnoticed how Harry Kane just keeps on winning in an England shirt. That’s 91 goals in 125 England caps now. He has scored in nine out of his 14 matches for England in 2026.
But delivering in every game has become normal for him now. Just give him the Ballon d’Or. Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo were among the first players to pull out of this England squad. Their withdrawals came not even 24 hours after they played most of the 1-1 draw with Fulham.
Is there a way back for either of the Manchester United players? Not only is their form at United under scrutiny, but others have stepped up in their absence. For Rashford, Gordon has now pulled clear of the United man in terms of the left-wing battle. And with Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze among Tuchel’s favourites, is there still a spot in the squad for Rashford?
For Mainoo, the performance of Scott against Croatia risks putting the United midfielder further down Tuchel’s pecking order. He was already pretty low on that list after a minute-less World Cup, with the likes of James Garner and Morgan Gibbs-White putting further pressure on both he and Rashford. You wonder if either Rashford or Mainoo regret pulling out of this England picture so swiftly. Chelsea’s Cole Palmer was another player who pulled out of this England set-up early, with load management deemed to be the reason for his withdrawal.
But this international break has proven that Palmer is no closer to breaking the attacking midfield mould that Tuchel has in Jude Bellingham and Rogers. Bellingham scored or created four out of the seven goals for England against Croatia. He remains untouchable in this team as a world beater. Rogers also scored in that game and is another Tuchel favourite.
After getting back to some form with Chelsea, this was a perfect window for Palmer to muscle his way back in. But he seems further back than ever in Tuchel’s plans. Reece James started out as England’s first-choice right-back. When he was fit, he started, no questions.
But has he ended up much further down the right-back pecking order now? Alexander-Arnold’s displays at right-back during this England camp have brought him back into the right-back equation. That spells trouble for James’ starting hopes for England. And after Jarell Quansah impressed against Croatia, England’s right-back situation is becoming crowded.
Could James be the one to make way from Alexander-Arnold’s form? This was always going to be a sticky camp for the England head coach, who came into the Nations League campaign needing to earn trust and confidence back after those substitutions against Argentina. Because of that, this was branded a ‘lose-lose’ for Tuchel. Any standout win and people will question where that performance was in the World Cup semi-final.
Any defeat would have sparked more doubts about his credentials and potential at this level. There are still concerns about Tuchel’s England. His confession that England are still a “danger” to themselves while in possession of the ball echoed his controversial ‘DNA’ comments from the summer. The Three Lions still feel a long way off Spain’s level where they are efficient in both boxes at the same time against the very best.
But the 7-0 win over Croatia – which caught everyone by surprise – has breathed fresh momentum into the Tuchel England era. That would have got the world of football talking. There’s also a bit more clarity in certain positions. England have two natural full-backs again, the left wing position is sorted.
Players like Rice and Saka can be managed more with adequate replacements such as Lewis-Skelly, Scott and Rogers. After clarity though, must come consistency. Tuchel has picked these players – they must stay there. Only that creates cohesion ahead of Euro 2028.
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