THE first international break of 2025 brings forward Thomas Tuchel’s reign as England head coach in the shape of Albania and Latvia in FIFA World Cup qualifiers, with the German’s inaugural squad garnering similar levels of criticism as his predecessors.

“So and so should be in” and “why is he even involved” were the usual retorts for some names included or otherwise overlooked, to such an extent that there was even a suggestion that Lee Carsley’s U21 side had the better collective of players.

But the big question is what does the Opta Index think?

Looking at the performances of players across Europe’s big five leagues this season (Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1), Eredivisie and EFL Championship, we’ve used their rating across those games to merely suggest what an XI could’ve looked like.

A few caveats before starting, players currently injured haven’t been included, so the likes of Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer won’t feature, and the players involved are correct as of Wednesday, 19^th March and doesn’t factor in any changes since then.

Starting with the goalkeeper, and while Jordan Pickford is likely to remain as England’s first choice, a position he has held since the 2018 FIFA World Cup, it’s another name who has enjoyed a fine campaign that comes out on top in this instance.

Burnley’s James Trafford has been in fine form for Scott Parker’s side this season, keeping an astounding 26 clean sheets in the league this season, comfortably the most among player in Europe’s big five leagues and their corresponding second tiers in 2024-25.

He also ranks first for save percentage (86.6% – min. 1,000 minutes) and second in the Championship this season for goals prevented behind Stoke City’s Viktor Johansson (15.7) and is fully deserving of his call-up to the first team despite playing in England’s second tier.

Going with a back four, it’s Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento at right back, coming off the back of a fine display in their recent League Cup final victory over current Premier League leaders Liverpool. In the Premier League this season, only Antonee Robinson (161) and Milos Kerkez (144) have made more overlapping runs into the final third than his 103.

One of the two centre backs is Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa, who has been a key part in Unai Emery’s side reaching the quarter-finals of this season’s UEFA Champions League and FA Cup.

The versatile defender has been adept during his one v one duels especially this season, winning 75.8% of them in the Premier League (72/95), the highest proportion of any player with at least 25 attempted. Second on that list is Myles Lewis-Skelly with 75% (51/68), and we will get to him in a moment.

The other centre back based on this specific, and hopefully fun, criteria is another member of Burnley’s impressive, and almost impregnable, defensive outfit in CJ Egan-Riley, becoming the first selection from the U21 side in the process.

Another consummate ground dueller, having won a league-leading 78.6% this season (81/103 – min. 20 duels), Egan-Riley is also extremely comfortable on the ball, completing the third-most progressive carries among centre-backs (317), as well as attempting (36) and completing (28) the most switches of any Championship player this season.

Completing the defensive quartet, having already been mentioned, is Arsenal’s 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly, who made the cut for Tuchel’s first squad in what has been an impressive debut season.

Versatile enough to effectively play at left back, his duelling prowess has been mentioned, but it’s also his composure on the ball that should be equally highlighted, completing 93.2% of his passes under challenge from players within three metres in the Premier League this season (151/162), the highest such proportion among players with 50+ passes attempted.

Moving into midfield and there’s no surprise to see Declan Rice in the proverbial engine room.  

While offering superb defensive coverage, Rice also excels as a ball carrier from central areas, completing 91 progressive carries of 10+ metres, the third-most among central and defensive midfielders in the Premier League this season.

Jude Bellingham has been moved to a more natural central position this season for Real Madrid, following his exploits further up the field in 2023-24, but that still hasn’t nullified his attacking output, with him involved in 19 goals across LaLiga and the UEFA Champions League in 2024-25.

 

The final name of the midfield trio is Liverpool’s Curtis Jones, whose significance for the current Premier League leaders perhaps goes under the radar compared to the like of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.

In terms of ball retention, Jones has completed 94.3% of his Premier League passes this season (614/651), the second-most of any player with at least 1,000 minutes played behind Manuel Akanji (94.5%), while he averages a possession won in the final third once per 90 this season, only four central midfielders have a better rate (min. 1,000 mins).

Despite not enjoying his best season as a Manchester City player, Phil Foden finds himself on the right of the forward line, though he does have the second-highest expected assists total for a specific player this season (2.7 to Erling Haaland).

Playing on the left-hand side is the second, and last, appearance for a player currently part of the U21 setup, that being Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens, who has 14 goal involvements across the Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League this season (11 goals, 3 assists).

Six of his Bundesliga goal involvements this season have come following a carry (moving the ball 5+ metres), while he’s recorded 113 progressive carries of 10+ metres, the ninth-most among wingers in the big five leagues this season.

 

And there we have it, that may or may not be an accurate reflection of what Thomas Tuchel could do, barring the caveats at the beginning of this exercise.

What can’t go unnoticed is the quality available across both sets of squads in what appears to be a very exciting time for English football both in the short and long term.

As the new England manager might say in his native tongue: “Es kommat nach hause!”

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