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ITV also quizzed Tuchel on reading between the lines of his press conferences … “Normally everything I say to you, the guys have already heard it in the locker room, or between us in a chat … I don’t give messages via the camera … everything is already said … they heard the message already … normally this is how I operate.”
… the likelihood of any surprise player making a late run for the World Cup squad … “We run out of camps … we have just one more camp … we are running out of matches to try things … but every player has a chance … they compete in the best leagues in Europe … form and attitude and performance will always be rewarded … there is always a chance.”
… the prospect of Danny Welbeck making it … “Welbeck was very close … do I really need to see this in November? … I already know what he can give us [as an orthodox back-up to Harry Kane] … I can wait.”
… the chances of England winning the World Cup … “There will be some good teams competing with us, I am afraid! … we need to make sure we are ready … we have a strong squad … it is exciting.”
… and the possibility of his staying on after the tournament, a question he straight-batted, explaining … “[The press] asked me, I was polite to answer.”
Thomas Tuchel runs through the numbers on NBC ITV. “We have some options [for number 10] … maybe we will have to take tough decisions … first we need to come to the summer … we have four matches to play … the first one is today and that is where the focus is … [Phil Foden] is an option in the middle of the pitch … I want him close to the opponents’ box … he plays a bit of a deeper role for Man City, which he does excellently … very impressively … maybe in the next months he will be an option for the number eight! … at the moment he is between a nine and a ten.”
There are a few familiar faces in the Serbia squad. Nottingham Forest defender Nikola Milenković and Fulham midfielder Saša Lukić start, while goalkeeper Đorđe Petrović and young defender Veljko Milosavljević, both of Bournemouth, are on the bench. Marko Grujić, formerly of Liverpool and Cardiff City, is also named as a sub. Their attack is led by Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović.
… although how much hope Serbia are holding onto is a moot point. Because here’s a reminder of what happened when the teams met in Belgrade two months ago.
There may not be much riding on this match for already-qualified England, but it’s a big fixture for Serbia, who are currently third in Group K. They’re one point behind second-placed Albania, who are away at bottom-placed Andorra tonight. Assuming the Albanians win – and Andorra have just one point from their previous six matches, from a draw with fellow stragglers Latvia – Serbia will have to avoid defeat at Wembley if they’re to retain any chance of finishing second and advancing to the play-offs. (Albania host England on the final matchday, this coming Sunday, while Serbia welcome Latvia.)
1. England P6 W6 D0 L0 F18 A0 Pts 18
2. Albania P6 W3 D2 L1 F6 A3 Pts 11
3. Serbia P6 W3 D1 L2 F7 A7 Pts 10
4. Latvia P7 W1 D2 L4 F4 A13 Pts 5
5. Andorra P7 W0 D1 L6 F3 A15 Pts 1
Thomas Tuchel makes three changes to the side sent out to thrash Latvia 5-0 last month. In come Reece James, Marcus Rashford and debutant Nico O’Reilly, taking the places of Djed Spence, who drops to the bench, the injured Anthony Gordon and the unselected Myles Lewis-Skelly. Tuchel’s selection means Morgan Rogers keeps his place in the number-10 role ahead of the recalled Jude Bellingham, who must make do with a place on the bench.
The teams
England: Pickford, James, Stones, Konsa, O’Reilly, Anderson, Rice, Rogers, Saka, Kane, Rashford.
Subs: Wharton, Spence, Trafford, Jordan Henderson, Dean Henderson, Foden, Chalobah, Burn, Bellingham, Eze, Bowen, Quansah.
Serbia: Rajkovic, Pavlovic, Milenkovic, Terzic, Mimovic, Ivan Ilic, Gudelj, Lukic, Kostic, Zivkovic, Vlahovic.
Subs: Petrovic, Grujic, Radonjic, Jovic, Katai, Veljkovic, Milosavljevic, Erakovic, Luka Ilic, Stankovic, Samardzic, Veljko Ilic.
Referee: Ivan Kružliak (Slovakia)
… but having said all that, we’re nothing if we’re not a broad church. Something for everyone!
Preamble
England have already made it. So what else substantially is there to say? Apologies to those who are genuinely interested in the public-facing workshopping of the eventual World Cup starting XI, but these MBMs also have to provide a service to the constituency that considers a third international break in as many months to be a serious imposition on their precious leisure time and a severe test of patience, and that’s who this particular preamble is aimed at. They don’t ask for much, let’s give them this one at least. Kick-off is at 7.45pm GMT, and the Premier League is back a week Saturday.
