England hopefuls’ battle among themselves the key point of intrigue against Uruguay

<p>Thomas Tuchel’s desire for clarity has him pitching two players against one another for each position. The competitive tension is palpable</p><p>In the analysis of Thomas Tuchel’s split-squad approach for this international window, his naming of 35 players for the Wembley friendlies against Uruguay on Friday and Japan on Tuesday – including nine&nbsp;that he has not previously worked with – one detail has slipped under the radar.</p><p>It is because it is easy to forget that the England manager <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/feb/12/thomas-tuchel-england-contract-extension-2028-head-coach-nations-league">recently signed up to stay on for Euro 2028</a>. There is a degree of longer-term planning about him wanting to get a first look, for example, at Ben White and Lewis Hall, Kobbie Mainoo and James Garner. Fikayo Tomori as well. The centre-half left Chelsea for Milan, initially on loan, in January 2021 – four days before Tuchel arrived at the London club for his brief but storied spell.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/mar/26/england-hopefuls-battle-among-themselves-the-key-point-of-intrigue-against-uruguay">Continue reading...</a>