England vs Albania: Who would our writers pick for the first game of the Thomas Tuchel era?

Thomas Tuchel was appointed England manager in October, started the job in January and on Friday will finally take charge of the national team for the first time.

The German was hired with a view to winning the World Cup in 2026 and his first match marks the beginning of qualifying for that competition, with Albania visiting Wembley.

Tuchel named a 26-man squad last week, with Jordan Henderson and Marcus Rashford arguably the most eye-catching inclusions.

The next week — Latvia are the opponents at Wembley on Monday — may tell us more about Tuchel’s vision for how he wants England to play. But in the meantime, we asked our writers to pick the starting XI they would select if they were in charge.

Daniel Taylor: Gibbs-White deserves to start

First things first, I cannot pretend I am entirely satisfied with this team.

Yes, I know the defence looks vulnerable. I have Reece James and Myles Lewis-Skelly as wing-backs and Kyle Walker operating in the centre-back role that he filled (reluctantly) at times in the 2018 World Cup.

And, yes, I know I have custard-pied Phil Foden further up the pitch. Have you seen him this season? Sorry, he’s a brilliant player but every England manager likes to say he will pick players based on form not reputation. So let’s do that, yeah?

Morgan Gibbs-White deserves to fill the void left by Cole Palmer’s absence. Jude Bellingham, like Harry Kane, is a mandatory pick and this system — 3-4-2-1 — means two No 10s can operate behind England’s captain. Morgan Rogers will play alongside Declan Rice in midfield, with the licence for the Aston Villa man to drive forward into more attacking positions. Henderson will remain on the bench.

Jack Pitt-Brooke: Tuchel should pick players on form

When Tuchel announced his squad last week at Wembley, he talked about wanting to press high and play with the same physical intensity you see in a Premier League game.

So with that in mind, I’ve tried to go for a physically dynamic team for the game against Albania on Friday evening. Obviously, the defence is missing some of its most important components so I have gone for the most experienced option possible. Kyle Walker has been playing for England since the Fabio Capello era, while Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa both have tournament experience.

For the front six, I have mainly gone for power, with no traditional No 6. Rice and Bellingham are my midfield two — a move away from the Angel Gomes/Curtis Jones experimentation under Lee Carsley. And then I have Anthony Gordon, Gibbs-White and Rogers behind Kane. That means no Foden or Rashford (or the injured Palmer) but I want to pick on form for now I suppose.

There is always the Latvia game on Monday to experiment with the attacking balance.

Steve Madeley: Defensive issues laid bare

A quick read of Tuchel’s first squad lays bare the challenge he is facing. For all the talk of England’s ‘golden generation’, the new manager will find himself dealing with the same squad imbalances that his predecessor did — namely most of his generational talents play in similar areas of the pitch and he has limited options in defence.

If James is fully fit, he should play at right-back as he is the best bet for the future, although his injury issues mean Walker cannot yet be put out to grass entirely.

Tino Livramento is right-footed but I’m picking him at left-back. His slightly greater top-level experience edges him ahead of Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Palmer’s loss of form (and the fact he has had an injury) makes the decisions easier further forward, with Foden offering an inverted option on one flank and Gordon operating as a more traditional winger on the other.

Tim Spiers: Time to start Henderson (Dean, not Jordan)

Bear with me here but new manager, new era, etc; I’m hoping Tuchel will try a hitherto unseen tactic with England of picking players in form in their favoured positions. I know, call me a maverick.

It would be nice to pick an XI that will build towards the World Cup because creating team cohesion is important, but given there are only 14 or 15 matches until the tournament, I’d like to think Tuchel will pick the best players on form. His selection of Jordan Henderson suggests not.

Anyway, there are issues with this side, especially at right-back, but you’d hope Tuchel will get the best from James if fit.

Dean Henderson, Gibbs-White, Livramento and Rashford are playing well and deserve a go. Foden and Gordon, less so. It’s a shame Adam Wharton isn’t in the squad as he’d be in my team all day.

Jordan Halford: Stick with Jones for midfield balance

Tuchel’s squad looks horribly unbalanced on paper, so here begins the latest chapter of putting square pegs in round holes, something which seems to be the hallmark of most England teams over the years.

I have gone for four at the back, as I’m not entirely satisfied James and Lewis-Skelly have shown enough to merit starts as wing-backs. That does mean Walker starts at right-back to provide the back line with some much-needed international experience, but it also means Livramento fulfils the right-footed left-back role like Kieran Tripper has often done in England’s problem position.

Worryingly, the two centre-backs pick themselves in the absence of John Stones and Harry Maguire.

Rice’s partner in midfield has also been problematic for England over the past 18 months since Henderson’s decline and it is clear he is not the future. Jones would be my pick to provide balance following his impressive performance against Greece in November, with Rogers and Gibbs-White options off the bench.

England have gone from an abundance to a paucity of wingers seemingly overnight. But despite Foden’s struggle for form, he gets the nod alongside Gordon, with Jarrod Bowen hardly pulling up any trees this season and Rashford yet to do enough since joining Aston Villa in January.

Elias Burke: James could thrive under Tuchel

There is no immediate test to Jordan Pickford’s status as England’s undisputed No 1, so he is a no-brainer selection between the sticks.

Konsa is unfortunate to miss out, given he has probably been the outstanding performer of Tuchel’s centre-back options in recent weeks. Still, with the World Cup just over a year away, Guehi appears the most likely of the available crop to start in that tournament at this stage. Reluctantly, Levi Colwill gets the nod as he is left-footed.

Lewis-Skelly has been the Premier League’s outstanding Englishman at left-back since breaking through in December (particularly in the absence of Lewis Hall) and deserves to be considered Tuchel’s primary option at that position. Livramento is enjoying the best season of his career and warranted a call-up. Walker’s experience with England will be valued under Tuchel, but James is a favourite of the German from their shared success at Stamford Bridge. It would be his first appearance in an England shirt since March 2023.

Rice and Bellingham are England’s present and future in midfield, and their qualities should be complemented well by Gibbs-White, who can help with creativity. Based on form and injuries to regulars like Bukayo Saka and Palmer, the straightforward picks to line up either side of Kane are Rogers and Gordon.

(Top photo: Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images)