England manager Thomas Tuchel will name his penultimate squad on Friday for March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, offering the first major hint at his World Cup selections. With seven players near certainties including Pickford, James, Konsa, Rice, Anderson, Saka, and Kane, Tuchel faces key unresolved issues. The biggest debate surrounds Jude Bellingham's position as number 10, where his fitness and form clash with Morgan Rogers' impressive qualifying performances. John Stones' fitness remains a critical uncertainty for the center-back partnership alongside Konsa and Maguire, while left-back spots remain wide open with several options including Livramento and Welbeck.

Backup striker roles are also contested between Watkins, Calvert-Lewin, and Welbeck, who brings World Cup experience despite his 2018 absence.