Thomas Tuchel has officially submitted his provisional 55-man England squad for the upcoming World Cup, and the early indications suggest some familiar faces could be making a return to the international stage. Among the names believed to be on the list are Manchester United's Luke Shaw, Brighton striker Danny Welbeck, and Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott—players who were notably absent from Tuchel's previous squad for the friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.
The preliminary squad, which was required by FIFA's midnight Monday deadline, also reportedly includes Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold. This comes as a surprise to many, given that Tuchel had previously suggested the right-back was behind several others in the pecking order. With the tournament set to kick off on June 11 across the USA, Canada, and Mexico, Tuchel now faces the challenging task of trimming this long list down to a final 26-man squad.
The Football Association has remained tight-lipped about the provisional selections, with plans to officially announce the final squad on Friday, May 22. This leaves plenty of room for speculation and debate among fans and pundits alike.
One of the most intriguing storylines is Alexander-Arnold's potential inclusion. The former Liverpool star seemed to be fighting an uphill battle for a spot, especially with Tuchel favoring Chelsea's Reece James, Newcastle's Tino Livramento, and Arsenal's Ben White at right-back. However, injuries have thrown the position into chaos. White is a major doubt after suffering a knee injury in Arsenal's win over West Ham, while Livramento is currently unavailable—though there's hope he'll recover in time for the World Cup. James, Tuchel's first-choice right-back, has only recently returned from his own injury layoff, adding further uncertainty to the mix.
Elsewhere, Luke Shaw's potential recall is a significant development. The Manchester United left-back has been working his way back to fitness and could provide valuable experience and depth to the squad. Danny Welbeck, meanwhile, brings a veteran presence and a knack for big moments, while Alex Scott's versatility and energy in midfield could prove useful in a tournament setting.
As the countdown to the World Cup continues, all eyes will be on Tuchel's final decisions. With injuries, form, and tactical considerations all in play, the next few weeks promise to be filled with drama and anticipation. Whether Alexander-Arnold, Shaw, and others can force their way into the final 26 remains to be seen—but one thing is certain: the race for a spot on the plane to North America is just heating up.