Tuchel thinks outside the box in final push for World Cup places with England expansion

Decision to essentially name two squads featuring 35 players overall is the ‘least messy’ solution and offers the best chance to assess fringe players

It has been on Thomas Tuchel’s mind for some time, certainly since his England team secured qualification to the World Cup last November with the perfect record – played eight, won eight, zero goals conceded. The March international window, the last one before the finals in the summer, was always going to be less ideal.

It arrives at the moment when the club season enters its final stretch; trophies on the line, European places, survival or relegation. The lot. It is not as if the players have not already been pushed hard. Now rotation for the very best, the ones that Tuchel counts on, is simply not an option.