After England's perfect winning streak secured their qualification, Tuchel finally faces his core challenge.

Written by Han Yixi On October 15, England became the first European team to book their spot in the 2026 USA-Canada-Mexico World Cup. Interestingly, this milestone came exactly one year after Tuchel’s appointment as the "Three Lions" manager.

Winning all six matches with 18 goals scored and zero conceded, England stands alone in Europe. Yet, their group rivals, ranked 34th, 66th, 137th, and 174th by FIFA, do not deserve much attention. This relatively easy schedule helped Tuchel smoothly navigate the integration period with the team and players. As Sky Sports noted, Tuchel’s real work is just beginning now.

Tuchel himself said he will "try some new things in November," when England will host Serbia and play away against Albania. At this point, the media has also started speculating about his future squad selections. Those in the know understand that Tuchel must address England’s core dilemma.

Remember the joke about England’s “nine princes vying for the throne” during last summer’s European Championship? Although Southgate led the team to the final, the various “star heirs” acted independently, often becoming the focus of fans’ attention and teasing.

Captain Harry Kane, who scored six goals in six qualifying matches, is definitely someone Tuchel appreciates and relies on most. Kane started every game in the six qualifiers, with only goalkeeper Pickford also playing every minute. Midfielder Rice and defender Konsa each started five times and came off the bench once, showing Tuchel’s extensive experimentation. Bellingham started all first three matches but missed the last three due to injury, including resting during the November international break as he just returned to Real Madrid and wasn’t at peak fitness. Moreover, reports suggest Tuchel is unimpressed by Bellingham’s superstar style, so dropping him was not a difficult decision. Foden, who competed with Bellingham for midfield leadership as the Premier League MVP last year, hasn’t been selected since March after the Latvia match.

Among the three midfield heirs, Palmer has appeared the least under Tuchel, playing only once as a substitute against Andorra in June. However, his absence in the first two rounds of the new season was due to injury.

As for Arnold, once the most expensive full-back in football, he has had only one substitute appearance under Tuchel, also in the away game against Andorra.

Arnold’s situation is the most awkward among them. After his high-profile move to Real Madrid, he can no longer guarantee starting or even playing time. Tuchel’s bigger challenge going forward will likely revolve around Bellingham, Palmer, and Foden: whether to use them and how to use them remain open questions.

Currently, the 4-2-3-1 formation is Tuchel’s preferred setup, with 4-3-3 as a fallback. The defensive line is the most unstable area, though player quality is similar; it mainly depends on how they are combined. Arnold seems unlikely to compete with a fit Reece James, and now Spence has emerged as well. Rice and the suddenly rising Anderson have become the preferred double pivot, with Henderson and Gallagher as backups, plus the omitted Crystal Palace midfielder Wighton. At least in the defensive midfield role, Tuchel has a clear plan.

Finally, the four attacking positions are the real headache. Kane’s status is unshakable, Saka is the first choice on the right wing, and the more aggressive and raw Madueke is a regular backup. On the left wing, Rashford, Gordon, and Eze are preferred over Bellingham, Foden, and Palmer. Aston Villa’s Grealish, who has revived his career, might even return to compete for a spot.

This situation makes the three “princes”’ status awkward. Palmer can still compete with Saka on the right wing, a position he often played at Chelsea. Over the next six months, England fans may be “surprised” to see these three multi-million-pound players battling for the same position. Moreover, their competitors might not only be each other. In the recent three matches with a combined 13-0 scoreline, Villa’s midfielder Rodgers, who doesn’t demand much ball possession, complements Rice well and is willing to play a supporting role. Bellingham, with 6 goals in 44 national appearances, and Foden, with 4 goals in 45, have not been very convincing. They also need to improve their club performances.

If their form dips, the German coach will not hesitate to make changes. Tuchel, of course, hasn’t fallen out with them, stating: "With Bellingham, England will definitely be stronger." But as he said during this month’s national team gathering: "We are not just choosing the most talented players; we are building a team. Now everyone enjoys coming to the national training camp, which is great." That said, after leading England to a flawless qualification, Tuchel has only two match weeks left to finalize the squad for the USA-Canada-Mexico World Cup, so his real challenge is only beginning.

Of course, having won every match without conceding, Tuchel’s current squad construction has earned him enough credibility and authority, which is his greatest confidence in solving the attacking lineup puzzle.