England’s World Cup squad numbers have been leaked and offer a potential insight into the team Thomas Tuchel is considering picking for the Three Lions opening game.
The 48-team tournament begins next week in Mexico City as one of the co-hosts takes on South Africa, but Tuchel’s squad will have to wait another six days to begin their campaign against Croatia.
Tuchel selected his squad earlier this month and was forced to defend his selections after opting to omit the likes of Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Morgan Gibbs-White.
Despite leaving out so much attacking talent, the former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss remains confident he has the tools at his disposal to ensure England go deep into the tournament.
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Indeed, even without Palmer, one of the stars of England’s run to the final of the most recent European Championship, there remains healthy competition for the coveted No.10 shirt with Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers vying for the role of chief creator.
The Aston Villa powerhouse, who has emerged as a key transfer target of Arsenal’s in recent weeks, appeared to be winning the race having starred in a faultless qualifying campaign.
If the squad numbers are anything to go by, however, Real Madrid superstar Bellingham appears to have won the race and will retain the shirt he wore at Euro 2024 when he scored his iconic equaliser against Slovakia.
Elsewhere, the numbers, published by the Daily Mail, suggest Marcus Rashford will start on the left-wing ahead of his potentially news Barcelona teammate Anthony Gordon.
The Spanish champions completed a £70million deal to sign Gordon last week and remain interested in securing a permanent deal for Rashford following his successful loan spell last season.
Barcelona have until the middle of this month to sign the 28-year-old for £26m but have indicated they are likely to test the waters with an initial offer of just £13m.
Ezri Kosa, meanwhile, has been hand the No.2 jersey but it is likely that Reece James, who has been given his Chelsea No.24 shirt, will represent Tuchel’s first choice right-back.
England World Cup squad numbers
Goalkeepers:
1. Jordan Pickford, 13. Dean Henderson, 23. James Trafford
Defenders:
2. Ezri Konsa, 3. Nico O’Reilly, 5. John Stones, 6. Marc Guehi, 12. Tino Livramento, 15. Dan Burn, 24. Reece James, 25. Djed Spence, 26. Jarell Quansah
Midfielders:
4. Declan Rice, 8. Elliot Anderson, 10. Jude Bellingham, 14. Jordan Henderson, 16. Kobbie Mainoo, 17. Morgan Rogers
Forwards:
7. Bukayo Saka, 11. Marcus Rashford, 18. Anthony Gordon, 20. Noni Madueke, 21. Eberechi Eze
Strikers:
9. Harry Kane, 19. Ollie Watkins, 22. Ivan Toney
Kobbie Mainoo, meanwhile, believes England can ‘100%’ win the World Cup this summer as he prepares to live out a boyhood dream.
Manchester United midfielder Mainoo was part of a group that trained for the first time at England’s pre-tournament camp in Florida on Tuesday as Tuchel’s men step up preparations.
The 21-year-old will be part of the squad that is aiming to end 60 years of hurt by winning the 48-team tournament in North America.
Mainoo, who started England’s Euro 2024 final defeat, has full confidence his side can lift the trophy on July 19.
‘100%,’ he said. ‘I feel like everyone in the squad, staff, everyone believes we can win it. But that doesn’t come easy.
‘It’s very special, something I’ve dreamed of, and I’m sure all the players have dreamed of since they were really young.
‘So to be here and say that I’m playing in a World Cup is unbelievable. I’ve always wanted to play in a World Cup for all my life.
‘It’s the biggest tournament in the world, so it’s definitely different from the Euros, but we will try and approach it in the same way with the goal that we want to win.’
Mainoo booked himself a spot in Tuchel’s squad after enjoying a new lease of life at Manchester United under Michael Carrick in the second half of the season.
He had not started a league match under former boss Ruben Amorim and looked set to leave Old Trafford, but Carrick’s appointment saw him play an instrumental part as United finished third in the Premier League.
‘I mean, obviously there were difficult times,’ he said. ‘But I tried to keep my focus on what was in front of me, take things day by day and just keep working my craft, keep working hard for the team, and I hoped the rest would come. Thankfully it has.’