The England team has easily secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup, and the first phase of the coach Tuchel era has been successfully completed. TA writes that Tuchel still faces five key issues that need to be resolved before the start of the main game next summer.
The first is the health issue of the team's central axis. Tuchel clearly regards Stones, Rice and Kane as the indispensable core, but whether these three key players, especially Stones, who has a rich history of injuries, can stay healthy throughout the season will be the biggest variable in England's prospects.
Secondly, the candidate for the left back position is undecided. Skelly, Liveramento and Spencer are the main contenders, but they each have their own shortcomings: Lewis Skelly lacks game time at the club, Liveramento has injury concerns, and Spencer is not a pure left-footer. Tuchel may even consider restarting Luke Shaw's international career.
Third, how to deal with the return of big-name players. Tuchel did not recruit stars such as Bellingham in this training camp in order to emphasize that "the collective is higher than the individual." Now he faces a decision: Is it time to reintegrate them into the team, or continue to exclude them to assert his authority and credibility?
Fourth, the competition for the left winger position is becoming increasingly fierce. Anthony Gordon performed well and scored against Latvia, and Tuchel, while always trusting Rashford, publicly demanded more goals and assists in return. For now, Gordon appears to be slightly ahead in the race.
Finally, and the biggest challenge is whether the team can adapt to the unique environment of the World Cup. The high-pressure, high-speed style of play emphasized by Tuchel will face severe tests in the hot weather of the North American summer. He himself is aware of this challenge through his experience at the Club World Cup, and England's poor performance in the only previous hot-weather game suggests that everything will be a completely different picture when the World Cup does come.