FIFA World Cup 2026: England Tournament Thread [R]

Saka on fitness after reports suggested he cannot play 90 minutes: “I don't want to say anything that goes against the manager. What I would say is between Mikel [Arteta] and Arsenal’s medical team and Thomas [Tuchel] and England medical team since March, they've managed me… pic.twitter.com/LB0eLkX50J

— Connor Humm (@TikiTakaConnor) June 15, 2026

 

Stones has always been a well-spoken candid player. I don't hope, but believe he will continue to make positive strides for England and get to 100 caps.

 

Well he is loved by Tuchel so it is likely.

 

Stones will likely be one of those players worth keeping around the into his 30s providing he can play consistently and prove fitness.

An experienced head who's won everything and is seemingly willing to accept whatever squad role he's offered. Can easily see him being around in Euro 2028, even if he probably won't be a starter then.

 

Hope he joins a bigger club than Everton. He can do a job at bayern Real or Barcelona easy

 

Tbf I think his current level is still a bit of a mystery. I don't doubt he's still a good player but I think we need to wait and see just how good he still is. Not enough of a sample from this season.

I reckon a few of the bigger clubs are waiting for this World Cup before they make a decision on going for him.

 

I should be excited about the England game but because its been so long I'm kind of bored

 

No offence lol

 

Stones is a curious one when it comes to injuries, he tends to pick up two to five smaller injuries every season and misses a lot of games. It seems to have got worse for him since he's turned 30, seven injuries across two seasons that has seen him miss 58 games so fit less than 50% of the time. I wonder how if his body will hold up for much longer.

 

The inside story of how Thomas Tuchel built England to win the World Cup: From a Munich cafe to Mount Everest, the squad's 'penny-drop' camp in Serbia, why he insists on video-calling players, brutal honesty and the 'shirt full of stars' mission https://t.co/DBc069duOP

— Daily Mail Sport (@MailSport) June 16, 2026

‘In Tuchel’s mind there are still doubts about Bellingham’s positional discipline and that’s one of the reasons Morgan Rogers has had his nose in front for the No 10 spot. Tuchel simply thinks the Aston Villa man is more reliable and that is informative in terms of how he sees the game.’

‘When he watched England’s Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain back on TV, he noticed 60 verbal interactions between players in the first half when things were going well. As the game slipped away in the second half, that number slid to 35. That was never going to be allowed to happen again. Not on Tuchel’s watch, not in a world where players like Dan Burn and Jordan Henderson are selected as much for what they bring off the field as on.’

Thomas Tuchel tells @skynews why players are better staying off social media.
And we hear from FIFA about new online abuse monitoring tools for this World Cup as well the police about what the tech giants need to do.

Video: https://t.co/5sn4YElDHr

— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) June 16, 2026

Harry Maguire has no plans to retire from England duty despite World Cup omission. https://t.co/hQqlSG8KSG

— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) June 16, 2026

 

Do we know how many England fans are expected to be at the game tomorrow night?

 

FA boss Mark Bullingham on Tuchel, Fifa’s rampant commercialism and tackling online racists | @stevescott_itv writeshttps://t.co/Q19J3LmDo3

— ITV News (@itvnews) June 16, 2026

Mark Bullingham saying they already planning for Euro 2028 and talking about how good qualifying was so that’s why Tuchel’s contract was extended.

 

I think it’s hard to calculate. The FA sold so many tickets but I think the grrnal sale has also seen fans buy tickets. Plenty of English people who live in USA and Canada who are probably going to a match or two without being part of the travelling fanbase.

 

Livramento out of the Cup with an hamstring injury! Chalobah tipped to replace him.

Exclusive : England World Cup preparations rocked by the news Tino Livramento is expected to be ruled out of the tournament through injury. Tuchel ready to replace him with Trevoh Chalobah among the options to come in. FA yet to confirm.https://t.co/DKS4WSqTNZ

— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) June 16, 2026

Is that really like for like? A centre back for a right/left back?

 

There aren't really any more obvious options we can pick that cover RB/LB like Livramento, so it needs to be a slightly different profile.

I could see him calling up Lewis-Skelly.

 

I think Chalobah might be selected on the basis that he is a good traveller/took the news of being left out well.

Burn is now 3rd choice left back!

 

Doesn't even make sense we would need someone to cover both sides that given Spence is already in the squad and does precisely that. Lewis Hall would be the most logical call up.

Chalobah would be absolutely baffling - a 6th centre back in the squad who also doesn't cover full back. So I fully expect that to happen.

 

Was trent in the 55 man squad?

 

I think Tuchel likes Spence as a defensive LB option to close out games, I'm not sure he'd even play Hall. But agree Chalobah is completely pointless, hopefully Matt Law is just guessing at that.

 

Surely he was. If James was the one who had got injured the demand for Trent would have been pretty loud.

 

ok, but you can't really make that judgement without knowing how the likes of Hall, MLS and other options took the news.

 

If we picked someone who wasn't a full back it'd be very harsh on Alex Scott too. Especially to say we didn't give him any minutes in the friendlies.

 

Come on Tuchel, this is a perfect chance to bolster the squad in areas of need and you pick Chalobah?

Edit: ready that hastily, Chalobah not confirmed I see. We absolutely do not need another right sided defender in this squad though. It has to either be someone left sided or a midfielder.

MLS would be a good shout since he can do both.

 

True.

Through they have been hints that Lewis Hall didn’t perhaps take it well - one reporter said he was gutted or something which seems to be talk for not the best reaction and we have had all the reports of him being unhappy with Howe since then.