John Stones secured his spot in England's World Cup squad after a season hampered by injuries, making the 26-man roster despite limited minutes at Manchester City. The defender featured in just 18 games across all competitions and played only 439 minutes of Premier League football, raising questions about his form heading into the tournament.

Stones missed significant action through a thigh injury that kept him out for two months, while a calf problem forced him to sit out England's recent friendly matches. His inclusion comes after announcing his departure from Manchester City this summer, ending his nine-year spell at the club where he won multiple titles.

Manager Thomas Tuchel backed Stones over Harry Maguire and Levi Colwill, describing him as a "big part" of his plans with "a lot of credit in the bank". Stones will compete for a starting role alongside Ezri Konsa, potentially ahead of Marc Guehi for the Croatia fixture.

This marks Stones' sixth major tournament appearance for England, having previously helped reach World Cup semi-finals and quarter-finals. His experience and leadership qualities proved decisive for Tuchel, who valued Stones' emotional reaction to the squad selection call.