England’s preparations for the World Cup 2026 continued as a second-string side were held by Uruguay at Wembley.
Ben White – back in the England squad after a four-year absence – gave the hosts the lead when he poked home from Cole Palmer’s 81st-minute corner, but the Arsenal defender conceded a stoppage-time penalty – confirmed following a VAR check – which Fede Valverde tucked away.
Understandably taking the chance to assess his fringe players, Thomas Tuchel handed senior England debuts to James Trafford and James Garner, while Dominic Solanke made his first start – a record eight years and 133 days on from earning his first cap.
The team which starts England’s tournament opener against Croatia in Dallas on June 17 will look considerably different to this 11 – the likes of Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice weren’t even named among the substitutes – but this was an insightful outing nonetheless, with the likes of Lewis Hall, Kobbie Mainoo and Dominic Calvert-Lewin involved from the bench – the latter making his first international appearance since the Euro 2020 quarter-finals.
Here are three things we learned about England with just 82 days to go until they begin their World Cup campaign.
Solanke Justifies His Selection
The top-scoring Englishman in the Premier League this season, Brighton’s Danny Welbeck, didn’t even make Tuchel’s 35-man squad, but Solanke, who has made only 12 appearances during an injury-afflicted campaign, did – and the 28-year-old took his opportunity.
Some 533 days on from his last England cap in a 2-1 Nations League defeat to Greece under Lee Carsley, Solanke showed the merits of his inclusion, exhibiting the robust hold-up and constructive link-up play he’s rightly renowned for early on.
But Solanke will be judged on goals above all else and, despite not registering on this occasion – with greater creativity around him, he might well have done his determination to get on the scoresheet was clear as he mustered three shots – two of them on target – before being replaced by Calvert-Lewin.
Seemingly playing with a point to prove, the former Bournemouth striker went some way towards putting himself in the frame for his first major tournament – though a few goals in Spurs’ battle against relegation will help further his cause.
Rashford Delivers a Timely Reminder
Rejuvenated at Barcelona, Marcus Rashford demonstrated that he’s still got plenty to give for England.
The on-loan Manchester United man did that best when he charged down almost the entire left flank late in the first half, reminding us of the individual brilliance he displayed on such a regular basis earlier in his international career.
Rashford showcases similar direct attacking intent in the second half and was, in many ways, England’s biggest threat on the night.
The 28-year-old hasn’t seen an awful lot of club action recently, but this was an explosive enough performance to suggest that he should be on the plane to the USA – having been left out of Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad after enduring a pronounced drop-off at Man United.
Versatility Could Help Tuchel Make Tough Calls
Tuchel can only name 26 players in his final World Cup squad, meaning that at least nine of the players he named for this round of internationals will miss out.
The German even admitted that it was “maybe, to a degree, unfair” to leave out Trent Alexander-Arnold, who hasn’t played for his country since leaving Liverpool for Real Madrid last summer.
But Alexander-Arnold’s ability to operate at right-back or in a midfield role could count in his favour – and the same goes for a number of the players trying to stake their World Cup claims in the current international break.
Like Solanke, Djed Spence is part of a struggling Spurs side, but he’s adept all along the left-hand side and is also capable of lining up at right-back.
You could make the same case for Garner – a defensive midfielder by trade but adaptable enough to be deployed in a more advanced role or in either full-back position.
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England are back in action at Wembley on Tuesday against Japan. The Three Lions will then face New Zealand and Costa Rica in June during their pre-World Cup training camp in Florida.
