BBC Sport's McNulty picks his World Cup England squad - do you agree?

England head coach Thomas Tuchel is poised to trim his provisional group to the final 26 names for this summer’s World Cup in the United States, and BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty has revealed the 26 he would send to Arlington for the 17 June opener against Croatia.

McNulty’s selection is anchored by the spine that served both Tuchel and predecessor Sir Gareth Southgate so reliably: Jordan Pickford in goal, Marc Guehi and an if-fit John Stones at centre-half, Declan Rice anchoring midfield, and captain Harry Kane as the undisputed attacking focal point. Ezri Konsa is pencilled in to partner Guehi should Stones’ fitness falter, while Bukayo Saka is the only other outfielder described as “automatic”.

Between the posts, Dean Henderson is installed as deputy, with Manchester City’s James Trafford chosen as third keeper after impressing in the recent Carabao Cup final. Tino Livramento’s two-footed versatility earns him the utility full-back slot, and Jarrod Bowen’s selflessness is rewarded with a place on the right flank.

Midfield sees Rice joined by Jude Bellingham, whom McNulty tabs as the starting No 10 ahead of Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers. Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton edges in despite lingering doubts over whether his languid style suits Tuchel, while Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo is preferred to the 36-year-old Jordan Henderson, whom the writer expects the German to pick regardless. Elliot Anderson completes the central contingent.

Up front, Kane is flanked by Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze, with Cole Palmer’s game-changing knack and penalty prowess earning inclusion over an out-of-sorts Phil Foden. The final striking berth is handed to Brighton’s Danny Welbeck, whose 12 Premier League goals and previous England familiarity make him McNulty’s emergency cover for Kane, even while acknowledging Tuchel is unlikely to concur.

Harry Maguire squeezes in as experienced defensive insurance, edging Newcastle’s Dan Burn, while Lewis Hall is taken as natural left-back depth. That leaves Reece James, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi and Nico O’Reilly to round out the rearguard.

McNulty admits several of his calls—Welbeck over Dominic Solanke or Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Mainoo over Henderson, Palmer over Foden—will probably diverge from Tuchel’s final list, but argues the squad above balances tournament know-how with youthful X-factor. With three top-20 opponents faced and no wins in the Send-Off Series, the writer concludes that the composition of the last 26 has rarely felt more critical.