With Thomas Tuchel’s first game in charge of the national team done and dusted with three Crystal Palace players in the squad, Eagles fans will be wondering how they will fit into England’s new era.
Dean Henderson, Marc Guéhi and Eberechi Eze received the call-up for games against Albania and Latvia. Adam Wharton was left out due to his fitness, having not played a full 90 minutes for Palace since September.
Tuchel’s choice of formation for Friday’s game was under plenty of scrutiny with an either a 4-2-3-1 as he did at Bayern Munich last season, or his 3-4-2-1 that he used when he won the Champions League at Chelsea. Neither formation will be alien to the players called up, but there is tough competition for a starting place.
Henderson has long aspired to be England’s number one, but Jordan Pickford is likely to be first choice for Tuchel just as under Gareth Southgate. The goalkeeper started away in Finland during Lee Carsley’s short-term stint in charge of the Three Lions.
Palace captain Guéhi’s place in the team is mostly secure, having started in all but one of England’s European Championship games, only missing out to suspension, but he was a surprise omission against Albania.
Under Oliver Glasner, Guéhi has played on the left of a back three alongside Maxence Lacroix and Chris Richards. The trio have conceded just six goals in the Premier League since the start of 2025, making them currently the best defence in the league.
It was expect that the centre-back would play alongside either Ezri Konsa or Levi Colwill against Albania, but it was Dan Burn that got the nod ahead of Guehi for his first England start.
Eberechi Eze’s call-up was a surprise even among Palace fans given his recent form, with Morgan Gibbs-White omitted despite performing much better in an incredible Nottingham Forest team.
Eze mostly played the traditional number 10 role for Roy Hodgson but under Glasner, he has been utilised as more of a left forward, supplying goal machine Jean-Philippe Mateta. In either of Tuchel’s formations there is a suitable position for Eze, but he will have to fight for a starting place and perform well with Gibbs-White on the fringes of the squad after receiving a late call up.
Wharton trained with the first team but features for the U21s. Having only just recovered from surgery, the midfielder’s game time will have to be managed, but he is in the mix for Tuchel’s future squads.
While Southgate claimed England lacked a player like Kalvin Phillips in his midfield, Wharton can offer Tuchel both incredible defending and attacking qualities. The manager complemented his passing and strategy as well as his attacking mindset.
Tyrick Mitchell looks unlikely to return to the England squad anytime soon. Last called up in 2022, he will have to improve his attacking ability at left wing-back for Palace for Tuchel’s consideration.
Twice attending Selhurst Park in recent weeks, it would seem Thomas Tuchel holds Palace’s English talent in high regard. The international break will be a big chance for Henderson, Guéhi and Eze to cement themselves in the new manager’s plans with the World Cup just over a year away.
