England’s squad is very different from the one that started the Euro 2024 final

London – When Thomas Tuchel names his teamsheet for England’s March friendlies, the page will bear little resemblance to the XI that walked out in Berlin for the Euro 2024 final. Only five of the 35 players summoned to St George’s Park this week started that showpiece, and the overhaul is most striking in midfield, where Kobbie Mainoo’s recall headlines a fresh cast auditioning for the holding role that has eluded the national side for a generation.

Mainoo’s renaissance is the story of the squad. Frozen out under former Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim, the 20-year-old saw loan requests rebuffed in successive windows and slipped from England view after his September 2024 cap. The appointment of interim United manager Michael Carrick, a long-time public admirer, changed everything. Mainoo has started all nine matches under Carrick, re-energising both club and country hopes, and Tuchel has responded by opening the World Cup door once more.

The Manchester United theme continues with Harry Maguire, who last pulled on an England shirt in the same September window. Like Mainoo, Maguire’s club renaissance under Carrick has convinced Tuchel to offer a final pre-tournament audition. The centre-back’s inclusion underscores a broader trend: form over reputation. Jason Steele, James Garner and Dominic Calvert-Lewin—all playing pivotal roles for Brighton, Everton and Leeds respectively—are first-time call-ups under the German coach, pushing established names to the periphery.

Tuchel’s search for a deep-lying orchestrator remains the tactical subplot. Adam Wharton and Elliot Anderson were trialled in November; Wharton’s composure drew particular praise. Mainoo now joins that audition, tasked with proving he can both knit passes and shield the back line. With Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham automatic picks, the third midfield slot is the last genuine vacancy in the projected Qatar 2026 starting XI.

The goalkeeping corps also reflects a changing of the guard. Jordan Pickford retains seniority, yet four other keepers—Dean Henderson, James Trafford, Aaron Ramsdale and the uncapped Steele—have been invited to press their claims in the final window before squads must be trimmed to 26. At the back, John Stones and Marc Guéhi bring major-tournament pedigree, but the likes of Tino Livramento, Jarell Quansah and Nico O’Reilly arrive untested at this level yet flush with club momentum.

Further forward, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden provide continuity, but even the attack carries fresh faces. Dominic Solanke and Noni Madueke return after strong domestic campaigns, while Marcus Rashford—reinvigorated on loan at Barcelona—offers Tuchel a different wide profile. The message is clear: past service guarantees nothing.

England’s evolution will be stress-tested in two March friendlies that double as the last live auditions before Tuchel must submit his World Cup roster. For Mainoo, Maguire and a host of new faces, the stakes could scarcely be higher.