Carragher: Tuchel's England selection shows the strength FA wanted

In a commentary on The Telegraph, Carragher stated that Tuchel is presenting the image that the English Football Association (FA) once expected – a coach with enough backbone not to be swayed by reputation or public pressure when selecting the squad for the 2026 World Cup.

Carragher said that throughout his playing career and later as a commentator, he had witnessed English national team coaches being criticized for "indulging stars," selecting players based on reputation rather than form or tactical suitability. According to the former defender, Tuchel is going against this trend.

"We can't want a strong coach and then demand that he always picks his favorite players," Carragher emphasized.

The former Liverpool defender also wished Tuchel had managed England 20 years ago, during his playing days, when the "Three Lions" were often built by selecting the best players and then trying to fit them together, leading to many tactically unbalanced situations.

Carragher played for England from 1999-2010, was a member of the squad for the 2006 and 2010 World Cups. He was a teammate of many stars like Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Sol Campbell, Ashley Cole, David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, and Michael Owen. However, the "Three Lions" were successively eliminated in the quarterfinals in 2006 and the round of 16 in 2010.

In the 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, Tuchel is said to prioritize "energy and harmony" over pure talent. Carragher believes this is not the strongest squad in terms of individual selections, as two notable names, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer, are absent.

The 48-year-old former player assessed that Foden has had many opportunities in major tournaments but has not yet made a commensurate impact, while the exclusion of Palmer caused a major surprise, as the Chelsea midfielder is considered one of the players with the best technical skills and ability to create breakthroughs in current English football.

Conversely, Tuchel has selected players with speed and the ability to create breakthroughs on the flanks, such as Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, and Anthony Gordon. According to Carragher, this trend reflects an approach focused on speed and penetration when matches are extended and opponents tire – a factor often decisive in major tournaments.

The call-up of Ivan Toney, who plays for Al Ahli in the Saudi Pro League, has also sparked debate. Carragher suggested that if Harry Kane were injured, Tuchel might prioritize a "false nine" option rather than using Toney.

The defense also saw several controversial decisions. Manchester United duo Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw were not included, while Dan Burn and Jarell Quansah were selected. This decision led to Maguire's family publicly reacting – something Carragher believes is inappropriate as the list can still change due to injuries before the tournament. He cited his own case at the 2010 World Cup, when he was called up at the last minute due to a teammate's injury.

Despite many conflicting opinions, Carragher affirmed that the success or failure of the England team will only be determined on the pitch. He believes Tuchel has built a system based on a clear philosophy over the past two years, and only the performance at the 2026 World Cup will answer whether his choices are correct.