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JACK GAUGHAN: Seventy-seven days until a clash with Croatia in Dallas and the battle for a small number of spots within Thomas Tuchel's England squad has yet to reach a definitive conclusion. The draw against Uruguay and defeat by Japan should focus minds ahead of the season run-in‚ when a few still remain on trial before Tuchel announces his 26 heading off to the World Cup. Tuchel experimented with different players and gave new caps across the two friendlies and opinions on who should make the squad will vary wildly up and down the country. Here‚ Daily Mail Sport looks at the runners and riders‚ who is certain of their spot among our picks and which talents are nervously looking over their shoulders.
OLIVER HOLT AT WEMBLEY: So this was farewell. This was the send-off. This was the last time a crowd will see England play until they touch down in Florida at the beginning of June and start the final stages of the build-up to their opening game of the World Cup against Croatia in Dallas on June 17. It was not a fond farewell. England did not take their leave of Wembley wreathed in laurels and serenaded with hosannas‚ put it that way. Ben White was booed again and Harry Kane was badly missed. So was Jude Bellingham. Maybe some people will start to wake up to just how important he is to this team one day. England attempted a lap of honour at the end but gave up half-way round. The crowd was quiet during the game‚ the players looked lethargic and‚ actually‚ rather apprehensive. The passing was disjointed. Some of the defending was naïve. And‚ as for players staking a final claim to a place on the plane to the USA‚ Canada and Mexico? None of the fringe candidates stepped forward.
Tottenham have entrusted their Premier League survival in the hands of Roberto De Zerbi after officially appointing the Italian manager on a huge five-year contract. Spurs‚ who are perilously floating just a point above the relegation zone with seven games to go‚ sacked Igor Tudor on Sunday just 44 days after the interim manager arrived in north London. Former Brighton boss De Zerbi had been available since his exit from Marseille in February and was understood to have been reluctant to take the Spurs job immediately‚ preferring to join the club in the summer.
Spurs have been searching for their fourth head coach in 295 days after Igor Tudor's exit and De Zerbi is the top candidate amid a series of talks between the two parties. The Italian‚ 46‚ has drawn objections from some sections of supporters for his role in rebuilding Mason Greenwood 's reputation at Marseille and is also thought to be keen to wait until the summer‚ but there appears to be no time to waste. If appointed‚ the former Brighton boss will have seven games to save his new side from a disastrous relegation to the Championship before looking to kick on in the top flight next season.
The time for playing power games is over now. The time for posturing and manoeuvring is gone. We are the business end of the build-up to the World Cup and it feels absurd that there should be any doubt over whether Bellingham‚ if fully fit‚ should start England's opening game against Croatia in Dallas on June 17.
MATT BARLOW: Igor Tudor's arrival was meant to mark the end of an error. Instead‚ it seems to have made everything worse. And now that is over‚ too‚ and the next move by Tottenham's new regime is critical. Any lingering margin for error has disappeared‚ as chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange zero in on their next appointment‚ knowing it must not fail like the last one. Glenn Hoddle has emerged as a genuine candidate despite not managing for nearly 20 years. It is bold‚ to say the least‚ although it would at least unite the fans behind a common cause.
MATT BARLOW: Spurs are searching for their fourth head coach in 295 days after Tudor left‚ with icon Glenn Hoddle among those under consideration for what would be a sensational return. But one person who has already ruled themselves out of consideration is former Monaco boss Hutter. Tottenham‚ meanwhile‚ are looking for someone to take over immediately and be in position for their game against Sunderland on Sunday.
POISONED CHALICE? Five managers Spurs could appoint next in bid to preserve Premier League status as Tudor leaves after dismal 44 days in charge
Tudor was only appointed on Valentine's Day following the dismissal of Thomas Frank ‚ but has failed to address Tottenham's alarming form. The Croatian presided over four consecutive defeats at the start of his brief tenure‚ with Tottenham still yet to win a league match in 2026. And despite giving himself a glimmer of hope after his side rescued a 1-1 draw at Anfield on Sunday night‚ Tudor was axed by Tottenham on Monday with the club one point above the drop zone.
England's friendly with Uruguay was marred by some farcical refereeing on Friday night‚ not least one incident in the second-half at Wembley that recalled Graham Poll's infamous mistake at the 2006 World Cup. Englishman Poll famously issued three yellow cards to Croatia's Josip Simunic in the Croatia vs Australia match in Germany. Poll booked Simunic in the 61st and 90th minutes but failed to send him off‚ only issuing the red card after a third yellow in stoppage time. This time it was Uruguay's Manuel Ugarte who got lucky‚ with the Manchester United midfielder already booked for an early challenge when he was shown another for dissent at German referee Sven Jablonski‚ in the final 10 minutes of the match.
OLIVER HOLT AT WEMBLEY STADIUM: There are‚ apparently‚ 82 days until England begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Dallas on June 17. After this dirge of a football match‚ it was tempting to view them not as opportunity to hone a challenge but as a stay of execution. This was a dour night at Wembley‚ typified by the fact that England's goal‚ nine minutes from time‚ was met with a crescendo of boos when it became clear the ball had been prodded over the line by Ben White‚ recalled to the squad after walking out on England at the 2022 World Cup. England as World Cup favourites? Really? This may have been a second team but it was still a performance that did very little to suggest England have any momentum as they head towards the tournament. It is to be hoped Tuesday's match against Japan offers more shoots of hope.
IAN LADYMAN: With less than three months to go before England 's World Cup starts against Croatia in Dallas‚ coach Thomas Tuchel has picked a mammoth 35-man squad ahead of two friendlies‚ against Uruguay on Friday and Japan next Tuesday. With fringe players set to be given a game at Wembley this week before senior stars are called in to camp ahead of the second fixture‚ on Saturday‚ Tuchel is trying to cover all bases before selecting his final 26-man squad for World Cup 2026 in May.
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