There are plenty of talking points from Thomas Tuchel‘s newest England squad. First and foremost, it’s a monstrous 35 players. That’s nine more than the German is able to select for the World Cup this summer. And yet the group is still missing big names like the omitted Trent Alexander-Arnold and the injured Reece James. The reason Tuchel has picked such a bloated selection is because he plans to break it up into two groups for their two upcoming friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.

And those two Wembley matches will give us a very good idea of who is likely to make Tuchel’s starting eleven against Croatia on June 17, and who still remain uncertain of whether they’ll be headed to the States. Express Sport names Tuchel’s strongest XI from the current squad…

Goalkeeper: Pickford

There’s no doubt about who starts in goal this summer. Jordan Pickford, with 81 caps to his name, has been the No.1 at the last two World Cups. This could actually be his last as the first-choice between the sticks, having just turned 32.

He has 43 clean sheets in his 81 England appearances and is consistently excellent for his country. James Trafford will hope, once he likely leaves Manchester City this summer, to push for the starting gloves over the next few seasons but for now Pickford is virtually uncontested.

Defence: Hall, Guehi, Stones, Livramento

Lewis Hall has to be Tuchel’s first-choice left-back this summer. An alternative is only acceptable if Hall is injured. The Newcastle defender, 21, is blossoming into one of the very best in his position across Europe and offers tonnes at both ends of the pitch. He’s brilliant.

In the centre, Marc Guehi is near certain to start at what will be his first World Cup. Ezri Konsa has been favoured alongside him but if fully match fit, Guehi’s Manchester City team-mate John Stones is the best centre-half available to Tuchel. Stones is a top-class operator and with 87 caps, has a wealth of tournament experience to bring to an otherwise adolescent backline.

With Alexander-Arnold not fancied, Reece James will unquestionably be first choice at right-back at the World Cup on one condition. The condition is, of course, his fitness, which cannot be relied upon sadly. Tino Livramento is the next best right-back available from Tuchel’s current squad, even though he is inferior offensively to both James and Trent. But the 23-year-old is solid and reliable, in a way not too dissimilar to his international predecessor Kyle Walker. No wonder Man City want him!

Midfield: Rice, Anderson

Tuchel has managed 10 matches as England manager. Declan Rice has started nine of them. Elliot Anderson has started alongside Rice in five of the last six. The Three Lions didn’t concede a single goal in any of those games, albeit all against lesser opposition. The go-to midfield pairing just feels set in stone.

Rice and Anderson offer loads on the ball, off the ball and both can take set-pieces. Adam Wharton and Kobbie Mainoo will both hope to make a case to get in over Anderson but the Geordie and Rice just complement each other so well. It’s hard to imagine anyone else starting in the midfield two this summer barring injuries.

Attack: Rashford, Bellingham, Saka; Kane

Now for the hard part. England have so many options in attack and the key is getting the balance right. In this 35-man squad, there’s Morgan Rogers, Eberechi Eze, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham who can all operate as the 10 behind Harry Kane. Captain Kane’s starting spot couldn’t be safer, especially given his form at Bayern Munich.

But behind him there is a lot of competition for places. Bukayo Saka is the best option on the right wing and scored three at the last World Cup. No other England player scored more. He’s also likely to fly into this tournament as a newly-crowned Premier League champion. He gets the nod over Jarrod Bowen or Noni Madueke.

The only player to score as many in Qatar four years ago as Saka was Marcus Rashford. He’s rediscovered form at Barcelona, although he finds himself in and out of the starting eleven, and he’s the best option on the left-hand side over Rogers and Anthony Gordon.

In the No.10 role, Jude Bellingham beats Palmer, Foden and co. to a starting spot. He is a match-winner born for the biggest moments. While Palmer and Foden have struggled for consistency of late, Bellingham’s only problem has been his fitness. That he can also act as a box-to-box midfielder, meaning he can offer better defensive support to Rice and Anderson against the highest quality of opponents, only helps his cause.