Home of football statistics and historyThomas Tuchel was handed a very simple brief when he was appointed as England manager – qualify for the 2026 World Cup and win the tournament next summer.
After achieving the first part of the equation with two games to spare, the former Chelsea boss can now concentrate on the trickier part of the task.
According to this safe and regulated real-money gaming platform in the UK, the Three Lions are currently rated as 7.50 shots to win the World Cup.
A couple of impressive performances in the final two qualifiers against Serbia (H) and Albania (A) in November could force the bookmakers to trim those odds.
However, as long-suffering fans will know, England tend to have two sides – one which easily qualifies for tournaments and one which fails when the heat is on.
The upcoming fixtures offer Tuchel an opportunity to try something different rather than sticking to the tried and trusted formula that brushed some of Europe’s minnows aside.
While England comfortably booked their place in North America, there are still several issues Tuchel must resolve before the tournament gets underway.
Central midfield is a primary area of concern. Jordan Henderson’s continued presence in the squad tells you everything you need to know about the current state of play.
Unfortunately, Tuchel will likely include the Brentford midfielder in his final squad. Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Morgan Rogers and Elliot Anderson should also get the nod.
While the last-named quartet each bring something to the table, none of them possess the same ability to pick a forward pass as Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton.
Palace teammate Yeremy Pino recent summed up why Wharton should be in the starting XI, saying that ‘he has the quality to play in the Spain national team’.
His ability to scan the pitch and make quick progressive passes sets him apart from any of the other players touted as potential starters for England.
Tuchel has plenty of players at his disposal who are adept at taking the safe option by passing the ball backwards and sideways. Rice immediately springs to mind.
However, teams that win major tournaments take risks. That point was hammered by Wharton earlier this year, when he explained why he plays so progressively.
“I can play a game and get 100 percent success if I pass it to my centre-backs and full-backs every time – but anybody can do that,” Wharton told the Times.
“Every professional footballer can get the ball and pass it from side to side for 90 minutes. If you can play forward, I don’t see why you wouldn’t.”
England have a long history of playing things safe. Alan Hudson, Stan Bowles, Glenn Hoddle and Michael Carrick are among the players who were criminally underrated.
They were often maligned for what they couldn’t do defensively, rather than lauded for their ability to change a game in a heartbeat.
Tuchel is in danger of repeating history with Wharton. If he is to fulfil the more important part of his original brief, he cannot afford to make that mistake.
England are masters at breezing past inferior opponents. However, the minute they face a half decent team, familiar failings come to the surface.
Previous manager Gareth Southgate came close to breaking England’s trophy drought when he was in charge, but he ultimately failed to get the job done.
His selections generally erred on the side of caution, which left England lacking the inventive spark they needed to unlock top-class defences.
Tuchel does not have another player who can do what Wharton does. The upcoming qualifiers are the perfect chance to allow him to showcase his ability.
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