Tuchel’s England camp boosts Scott, Hall and Trafford’s claims
England manager Thomas Tuchel used a disrupted Nations League window to test a more flexible tactical approach and assess new players, as the team began a fresh cycle after losing the World Cup semi-final to Argentina. After opening with a defeat to Spain, England won three matches, including a 7-0 victory over Croatia, and Tuchel said the camp had helped identify players for the longer-term push towards Euro 2028.
Alex Scott and Lewis Hall emerged as the leading winners, with Myles Lewis-Skelly also making a strong case; goalkeeper James Trafford strengthened his challenge to Jordan Pickford, while Trent Alexander-Arnold remained a more complicated prospect. Scott impressed in midfield but aggravated a thigh problem and is expected to miss November’s games against Croatia and Spain. Injuries and withdrawals meant only 12 players from the World Cup squad were available for the final match against Czechia, and Tuchel warned absent players that the team’s momentum would continue without them.
- Tuchel tested a more flexible England game plan.
- Scott and Hall made strong impressions.
- Scott’s thigh injury rules him out in November.
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Thomas Tuchel became England manager following the national team's World Cup loss to Argentina in the semi-final, tasked with rebuilding the squad ahead of Euro 2028. He recently used a Nations League window—a series of international fixtures held separately from major tournaments—to test different tactical approaches and assess players for England's longer-term plans. The international break presented challenges through injuries and player withdrawals that disrupted squad availability.
During the camp, England recorded mixed results: an opening defeat to Spain followed by three victories, including a commanding 7-0 win against Croatia. Tuchel stated the period had helped identify which players could be important to England's future. The matches gave less-established players an opportunity to impress and stake their claims for selection.
Several players strengthened their international standing during the camp. Midfielder Alex Scott and left-back Lewis Hall made particularly strong impressions, whilst goalkeeper James Trafford advanced his bid to be England's first-choice goalkeeper. These assessments are shaping Tuchel's thinking on which players will form the core of England's squad for Euro 2028.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “All aboard the Tuchel train? England camp has clear winners and losers”.