The England No. 10 position debate: Key to selection revealed before World Cup squad announcement by Thomas Tuchel
Updated 21/05/2026 at 11:47 GMT+1
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Former England defender Joleon Lescott has explained why performances over the final weeks of the season could be key when Thomas Tuchel chooses his World Cup squad.
Bellingham? Rogers? Eze? TNT Sports experts break down England's No. 10 debate
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Tuchel will announce his 26-man squad for the tournament in USA, Canada and Mexico on Friday, May 22.
A number of places look to be up for grabs, particularly in the attacking areas where there is plenty of depth.
TNT Sports expert Lescott has experience with England squads having been a player and also a coach with the senior and Under-21 teams.
”Having worked with the FA and gone through a selection process I am aware of the factors they cater for which I didn’t anticipate,” Lescott said.
”One of them is the psychological element to how you finish a season individually and collectively as a team.
"Someone like [Arsenal’s Eberechi] Eze, who is one of the names mentioned, if they win the double and he is influential, then the way he is going to feel, he is going to be on a great high. So there’s a real opportunity to take him and let him have an influence for England.
”Those things have to be catered for with the selection which I don’t think many fans will know the impact that has on the process.”
One of the most hotly-contested positions in the team could be the No. 10 role.
Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham, Arsenal's Eze, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, Manchester City's Phil Foden and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White are all potentially vying for the spot.
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Bellingham: 'Sensational' Kane Ballon d'Or hopes depend on Bayern and England success
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”It’s a beautiful problem to have because they are six or seven unbelievable players,” said former England goalkeeper Joe Hart.
”What goes on behind the scenes will be important with how they integrate with the squad, what their standing is, and how do they make Harry Kane a top player, because that is what the World Cup is going to be around.
”Everyone will have their role to play but Harry Kane needs to be top scorer in the tournament for England to win it.”
Kane has scored 55 goals in 49 games across all competitions this season for Bayern Munich and is one of the front-runners for the Ballon d'Or.
Former England defender Martin Keown also thinks the connection with Kane will be key when Tuchel picks his team.
”If we look at what Kane has done for Bayern we could create something similar with our wide players,” he explained.
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‘Unstoppable! Irrepressible!’ – Kane slots home to equalise for Bayern
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”Bayern have [Michael] Olise on the right and for me [Bukayo] Saka isn’t any different, he’s at a high level, and on the left we need that same pace that he is used to at Bayern.”
England are set to be among the favourites at the World Cup.
They start their campaign with arguably their toughest Group L game against Croatia on June 17, before playing Ghana and Panama.
Former England manager Glenn Hoddle says The Three Lions are fortunate to have so many options in the No. 10 position.
”Over the years we haven’t had enough of them. Certainly in my era there wasn’t enough emphasis on that type of position.
”The French did, the Italians and Brazilians did and they must be looking at us now saying ‘How have you got so many of these No. 10s? We haven’t got that to choose from.’
”Whoever they take they have to feel as if they have a bit of arrogance in them, a bit of German mentality, you put that together with the English fight and spirit and that belief becomes knowing they are better, then they can elevate that performance.”
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