England national team

[PeterWithesShin]

Last player I expected to pick up a knock.

[ChicagoLion]

Why it was odd to bring in another centre half when he RB back up got crocked. I expect Konsa to play there now.

[Mellin]

Southgate is the second best England manager ever by a vast, vast margin. Better squads and alleged better managers have done a lot worse over the years.

Livramento being replaced by Chalobah due to injury;

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7365471/2026/06/16/tino-livramento-england-world-cup-injury/

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12040/13554613/world-cup-2026-tino-livramento-suffers-hamstring-injury-and-replaced-by-trevoh-chalobah-in-england-squad

As for the current fella, he's just called up his sixth centre back, and at least two of them are shit. Personally I think he's had a complete mare with this squad and that is a proper mental decision. All the players left at home and you replace an injured fullback with...Trevoh Chalobah!?! When James gets injured the full back options are Nico O'Reilly and Djed Spence. Sweet.

Only thing I can think is he's going to Martn O'Neill it, which if the options were Terry, Campbell, Ferdinand, King and Woodgate I could probably live with. Or maybe a back three, but he has taken four wingers, so that doesn't scan either. It's a terrible squad.

It's okay. Quansah and Chalobah will save the day. Incomprehensible.

[aj2k77]

This is why we never win anything. Instead of objective decisions we make too many Sky 6 media appeasement decisions. We take a player from a midtable team with an abysmal injury record and the cover for him is a bloke who plays on the opposite flank for a team who have back to back bottom 6 finishes and then we think we can win a World Cup.

[PaulWinch again]

You might disagree with his decisions, but the idea that Tuchel would make decisions to appease anyone is just inaccurate.

[PaulWinch again]

Also the issue with James is fitness, as has been proven, he’s comfortably the best right back in the country.

[dorsetvillian]

The squad balance always looked wrong. The injury to James has simply highlighted this at right back. We were all told that we had a abundance of  creative 10's, yet Bellingham is playing that role. To me he is behind Rogers, Foden and Palmer as a 10. Bellingham causes more problems than he solves in this team,  as it seems he isn't trusted as a 6 or an 8 alongside Rice or Anderson.

[usav]

This is why we never win anything. Instead of objective decisions we make too many Sky 6 media appeasement decisions.

Well he's also being slammed for leaving the likes of Foden and Palmer at home, so I'm not sure that's exactly right.

Not having enough cover at RB is the problem here, not which club they do or don't play for.

[PaulWinch again]

It’s just inaccurate. Pretty much the most definitive characteristic of Tuchel is he’s his own man.

[Brend'Watkins]

Also the issue with James is fitness, as has been proven, he’s comfortably the best right back in the country.

The issue with James is form which might be to do with his fitness. As good as he is on his day he’s been decidedly average in both WC games.

[Pete3206]

Also the issue with James is fitness, as has been proven, he’s comfortably the best right back in the country.

And always injured.

[PaulWinch again]

Well yes that’s the fitness reference.

[brontebilly]

You might disagree with his decisions, but the idea that Tuchel would make decisions to appease anyone is just inaccurate.

That's fair but not taking TAA was just silly. James didn't look fully fit v Croatia. Wharton is another one, if he's there he comes on v Ghana. Eze over MGW on club form seemed odd too but England are stacked with attacking players so not the biggest deal. Konsa or Chabolah at RB against decent opposition will be a disaster. Struggling to play through midfield as it is. Easy pressing target if they stick one of them over there. Spence is quick but average enough.

[Chip Butty 111]

BBC think both Bellingham and Rogers starting ?

[PaulWinch again]

To be clear I’m not saying he has or hasn’t made the right decisions. My point was any argument suggesting selection is dictated by keeping the “Sky six” happy is nonsense.