Jordan Henderson? Tuchel gets to work with an eyebrow-raising England squad

5 hours ago 1

SPILL THE T

Thomas Tuchel was unveiled as England manager in mid-October. Since then, he spent two-and-a-half months unofficially collecting his thoughts (and sizeable wage) during a pre-job gardening leave before officially starting on 1 January. Since then, Tuchel has spent the last two-and-a-half months making “an absolutely brilliant impact” and “building connections”, according to chief FA suit Mark Bullingham, despite Tuchel spending large stints working remotely in Germany. Fear not, though, Tuchel has spent some time in England, mainly in chauffeured vehicles and Premier League hospitality lounges. Sitting in heated seats a couple of times a week is rough work, but someone has to do it. It is sometimes said that the England manager’s job is the hardest in football. Just don’t tell that to the person cleaning the post-match bogs at your local Sunday League side.

Seemingly the only tangible thing that Tuchel has been required to produce in those months is a list of 26 male names for England’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania (65th in the Fifa rankings) and Latvia (140th), two giants of the modern game. And after whittling down an initial longlist of 55 names, said list was published on Friday to a … mixed reception.

There was plenty to digest. The naming of four ~~naan~~ goalkeepers was certainly a bold look, Marcus Rashford was back in, while the inclusion of Dominic Solanke, recently recovered from knack, over Bigger Cup quarter-finalist Ollie Watkins left more eyebrows raised than a Carlo Ancelotti lookalike convention. Dropping Harry Maguire and including another giant centre-back in the uncapped Dan Burn to head and kick the ball away from England’s goal is exactly the sort of tactical innovation that Tuchel has made a career out of. And although the German should be praised for calling up Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly, anyone with a pair of eyes and access to Luke Shaw’s medical records could probably have made that call, too.

Arguably the most surprising name on the sheet is Jordan Henderson. The talented yet ageing midfielder – who will turn 36 during the 2026 World Cup – has earned an unlikely recall despite a rocky last couple of years, including controversial moves to Saudi Arabia and Ajax. “I think his career and the way [Henderson] plays now and imposes himself at Ajax is just so impressive,” justified Tuchel, seemingly unaware that Henderson missed Ajax’s Bigger Vase last-16 second-leg defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday through suspension after dissent towards Italian referee Simone Sozza in the first leg – a dismissive gesture later described as “very stupid” by Henderson himself.

“Jordan builds on character, personality and energy that he brings to the team,” continued Tuchel, undeterred. “For me, Jordan is a similar call-up for the same reasons as Dan Burn. They carry these values on their shoulders and they carry their teams,” continued the German, seemingly unaware that Henderson is not even a starter these days for Ajax, named on the Dutch club’s substitute bench for each of the last three league matches. Roll on, and roll over (please), Albania and Latvia!

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

You can only sit around the house and cry for so long. I’m a fighter. I didn’t have a playing career, so I’ve had to scrap to get where I am. I’ve been through a huge amount, so it’s made me quite tough. And it was two-way, right? What the fans did was incredible. It was important for me to show them my appreciation and the way I can do that is being on the touchline driving their club. It was my way of giving back a little bit. I know there were a few reservations from a few people: ‘Is it too early?’ But it just felt right” – the Bristol City manager, Liam Manning, talks to Ben Fisher about returning to football after the death of his baby son, Theo, last year.

I’m sorry for disagreeing with an octogenarian (Guy Robert, yesterday’s letters) whose knowledge I would otherwise bow [to], but a penalty miss is a miss whether saved or not. By the way, I’m only 50 and reading the Football Daily is a highlight of my day. Is this (arguing with my elders and betters) as good as it’s going to get for the next 30 years? Probably” – Andy Morrison.

Since pedantry is suddenly in fashion again: Thursday’s Football Daily referred to ‘an agonising afternoon’ for Villa as they lost at home to Ipswich in 1981. Not so: it was actually an evening game” – Glyn Berrington (and others).

I like Thomas Tuchel primarily because he was involved in that wonderful handshake spat with Antonio Conte while he was the manager of Chelsea. But I can’t look at him without thinking how much he resembles the figure in Edvard Munch’s ‘The Scream’. And judging by the response to his appointment from the unhinged wings of the British press, I have a feeling Munch’s masterpiece is a premonition of the pressure he’s signed up for” – Colin Reed.

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