Thomas Tuchel’s England squad has attracted as much criticism for who has been included as who has been left out. With World Cup football betting markets already reflecting the uncertainty around England’s chances compared to the likes of Spain and France, the selections of Ivan Toney, Djed Spence, Jordan Henderson, and Noni Madueke have each generated significant debate. Here is a look at what each has to prove in North America this summer.
Jordan Henderson
The most contentious inclusion in the entire squad. Jordan Henderson turns 36 on 17 June, the day of England’s opening game against Croatia, making him the oldest outfield player in Tuchel’s party by some distance.
His Brentford season has been solid without being spectacular, producing one goal and three assists from 21 Premier League starts, and a significant run of games missed in the second half of the campaign raises genuine questions about whether he is equipped for the physical demands of a tournament in summer heat.
His career credentials are beyond dispute: Premier League and Champions League winner with Liverpool, 89 caps, goals in major tournament knockout football. But the argument for his inclusion rests almost entirely on dressing room influence and Tuchel’s personal trust rather than current form. At a World Cup where England will need midfield energy and dynamism, Henderson will need to demonstrate that he can still contribute meaningfully on the pitch rather than purely off it.
Ivan Toney
Toney’s recall has divided opinion sharply. Former England defender Stuart Pearce described himself as “astounded” at the selection of a striker who has spent the past two years in the Saudi Pro League.
The counter-argument is impossible to ignore: Toney scored 42 goals for Al-Ahli this season, a return that convinced Tuchel to take a closer look after leaving him out of his first squad in March. His England record of seven caps includes the Euro 2024 final, where he came off the bench in the dying embers against Spain, but he has not played for the Three Lions since June 2025.
The question is not whether Toney can score goals. His record at every level of his career answers that, but whether the standard of opposition in Saudi Arabia translates to the World Cup stage. Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored 14 Premier League goals this season and was overlooked. Toney will arrive knowing the scrutiny on him is considerable.
Djed Spence
Spence’s inclusion over Trent Alexander-Arnold is the single most controversial defensive call in the squad, and the circumstances surrounding it add another layer of intrigue. He was almost left out entirely after suffering a broken jaw in Tottenham’s game against Chelsea, with Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly understood to have been next in line for the spot.
Tuchel’s reasoning is tactical: he values Spence’s speed as well as his ability to defend one-on-one and his versatility to cover either flank, providing cover for Reece James and Tino Livramento. His season at Tottenham, who have battled relegation throughout the campaign, has been functional rather than impressive.
With England vs Croatia odds pointing to a cagey opener, his ability to handle direct wide players will be tested early. He arrives at his first senior tournament knowing that most of English football believes someone else should be wearing his number.
Noni Madueke
Perhaps the selection that requires the most justification, given what has been left at home. Madueke has managed two goals and one assist in 25 Premier League appearances for champions Arsenal this season, a contribution that would be considered modest for a squad player, let alone someone selected ahead of Cole Palmer and Phil Foden for a World Cup. He has one goal in 10 England caps.
The counter-argument Tuchel appears to be making is that Madueke’s directness and energy offer something different from the more technical profiles around him, and that Palmer and Foden’s inconsistent club seasons make them less ready than their reputations suggest.
It is a defensible position in isolation, but difficult to sustain when the comparison is made directly. Palmer, in particular, even in a difficult Chelsea season, has shown the ability to create and score in moments that change games.
Madueke arrives in North America knowing that expectation is low and the bar to impress is high. That, at least, removes pressure. Whether he can convert opportunity into genuine impact when England need it is the question that will define his tournament.
