Who's on England plane for World Cup? MNF discuss Tuchel's certainties, contenders and outsiders

0:00Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink being our guest, we thought we'd do something with an England theme. Jimmy was, of course, part of Gareth Southgate's coaching staff involved in the Euros, got all the way to the final. We don't need to revisit that, Jimmy.

0:11Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:Please, no. But we're really interested to talk to you about the process that comes pretty much right now for Thomas Tuchel, because here we are, the end of January, the World Cup starts in the middle of June and we have some games in March. and that's pretty much it in terms of the preparation. So he's only got one final chance to have a look at any players before he makes his final selection. So will those selection meetings have already started with an eye on the World Cup, do you think? Yes, that's what we did. Obviously, I wasn't full-time, so I was every two to three weeks, we had meetings.

0:51Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:Garrett and Steve were like every week with the staff behind the scene, the analysts and all the other boys, to talk about who's injured, who is available, where are they with the injury, because every manager has got an idea of who he wants to take. and that changes obviously every time with injuries and availabilities. So Jimmy, they would meet every week and then every three weeks when you go to St George's Park, is there lots of things on the agenda or is the main token point actually, where are we with our 23 or 26-man squad? Is that the main sort of idea about why you're going every three weeks, even at this stage?

1:41Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:Yeah, you would every time talk about something specific. Yeah. At the end, for instance, you would look at the penalties, for instance. Before that, you would maybe look at the 26. You would always talk about the 26. You would always touch up on certain individuals and the form of them and how they are playing and where they are in their fitness and all that kind of stuff. I'm just trying to think now. So say you get into this stage and you think sort of at this stage now, every three weeks, you're looking at the squad. You're almost picking a squad, not a different squad every time you get there, but they're almost, OK, if we were picking it now.

2:31Like a working squad. Yeah, but players almost coming in and out every three weeks because of maybe an injury or a loss of form. You're almost picking a squad every time you're together.

2:41Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:Well, everybody's going to have that core, haven't they? Of the squad. And everybody has got their idea who they want to pick and how they want to play and how they're seeing it going forward. Everybody has, well, the manager will have that. And there are always some positions that are open and people are still fighting for that place. The closer you come to the tournament starting, the less that opportunity is and the quicker that decision is made. But you make a decision, first of all, how are you going to play? with the last European Championship, it was a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-1-3 or however you call it.

3:37Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:So he has his core of players that he definitely is going to want to take if they are available and they are fit. Majority of the time, 20 of those 26, they're already picked. Can I ask you something because it's interesting about the system there. because Gareth played different systems at different tournaments. I think his first time he played three at the back. So when you talk about your system first, so before you even think of names, do you actually think of numbers what you need in certain positions? So forget the names. Say like we've got an abundance in one position. Do you actually think, OK, if we're playing a back four, we need so many centre-backs.

4:20We need so many centre-midfield players. That becomes before the names. X amount of defenders.

4:26Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:For instance, eight. now if all of them eight are fit and they can play every three days all them eight then you might stick with those eight if that is not the case you might make those eight a nine and then the midfielders a seven for instance or you take You quite often see an eight sort of eight, eight, four wouldn't you formation with three goalkeepers you'd have eight defenders eight midfielders for sort of attacking players. But that's changed now because after the COVID and the squad's got bigger. Yeah. And we've stuck with the 26-man squad. So it's almost as if you've got two players, outfield players for each position.

5:09An extra. Three wild cards. Yes.

5:11Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:In a way, in a way. But you also, it's not as easy as that. It's, you also want to... It's easier than picking 23. Yeah. But you also want to have the right characters in the squad. Does that play a big part in it? Big part. Big part. Because some of the players are not going to play. And they still have to be there for the other teammates. And they still have to be, you know, ready to train the next morning. And some players might play one match and sit on the bench. You know? But the atmosphere, the camaraderie, I must say, what Garrett did magnificently, has to the harmony has to so important you've been there yourself like Jamie Gelfinkirken yeah exactly I was never first choice I can't imagine you being a good tourist and not playing no yeah no well no I had it in 98 a long time ago that I started the tournament I started the first match for the Dutch national team we drew 0-0 and I didn't play no more and that was quite tough but you had players like Patrick Kluivert, Dennis Bergkamp in front of me.

6:28Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:So, you're a little bit quiet then. You know what I'm saying? But, but, but you want that harmony. You want that harmony because it's, it's, it's important. That doesn't mean that you can't bring quality, but you have to bring the, the right quality with, with, with the right mentality. So, we've started this process with, with Jamie picking what are your certainties? And I think we probably if we all did this exercise, you'd all be able to sort of come up with 10 names that you, we'd all come up with similar 10 names, I guess, that sort of thing about who we definitely think will go. So this is Jamie's list of certainties.

7:06And it is 10 that Jamie's starting with. Is there any that you would add to that, Jimmy, do you think, when on first glance that you think will definitely or should definitely be on the plane? Well, for me...

7:17Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:Without debate. Without debate. If he stays fit and if he keeps on playing, Luke Shaw would definitely be there for me.

7:35I mean, that seems almost a first-11 out of left-back, isn't it? Yeah.

7:42Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:Obviously, Stones is injured. Maguire is just coming back.

7:53Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:And, yeah, those are characters, you know, and you need characters in the team as well. So let's start with the goalkeepers then. We've got Jordan Pickford as a certainty, and I don't think anyone would dispute that really. But these are the other contenders for that position. Are you looking for the best three goalkeepers to take? Or do you think you are thinking along the lines of we want the second one just in case something happens to Jordan? if he's going to be our under-speecher number one. And we need another one who we might be taking along for the experience or because they are a good character.

8:29Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:No, you want to take the three best ones. And that's what has been done. You know, Dean Henderson did absolutely magnificent and pushed Pickford all the way. Ramsdale was there. James Trafford is part of that conversation as well he's someone who's not really playing the only thing is he's not playing and that's the problem he's got the ability but he's not playing what Gerrit Southgate did really well he took a forward goalkeeper with him for training for penalties for finishing drills and stuff you know to just keep also the harmony between those goalkeepers because goalkeepers are a different kind of...

9:22They have a separate dining room, the goalkeepers. So, Jamie, you've got Jordan Pickford. Who are the two or three that you want to add to that? Well, I went for Dean Henderson. He's been fantastic, hasn't he, for Crystal Palace this last couple of years. And then looking at the other three, I actually think James Trafford, we're not expecting a third-choice goalkeeper to play. I think he's younger than the other two as well. it's almost not bringing just for experience he's a quality goalkeeper but in terms of how do you want to play I'm a fan of Nick Pope in terms of a goalkeeper but when you talk about using your feet in distribution that can be a problem at times and the fact Adam Ramsdale substitutes at Newcastle behind him so Eddie Howe tells you what he thinks about those two goalkeepers so I would go with Dean Henderson and James Trafford and he's not bothered about taking the fourth so he's not worried about the penalties or whatever because he pre-prepared this without hearing that answer he might have taken a fourth had he heard that as well.

10:16No, he did. But the fourth one

10:20Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:was obviously somebody that was not of the 26. That was somebody just only for training. And it was somebody, it was Hatton. And it was somebody who was older. Tom Heaton. Yeah, Tom Heaton. He might come again. Who knows? Right, so fullbacks. You've only got one so far, Jamie. So you're going to probably have to add at least three of these. You've gone with Rhys James. So the contenders are the ones that you have a stronger fancy over or that we thought might be stronger fancied. And there are some very interesting outsiders in that list as well. Yeah, I looked at the left-backers and Nico O 'Reilly, I think, has done brilliant.

11:00No doubt. But if I go to left-back first, because that's sort of the glare and sort of position that I didn't put anyone. I'm a huge fan of Lewis Hall. And I was looking at Nico O 'Reilly and I was looking at Miles Lewis-Skelly. especially probably six months ago 12 months ago Mars Lewis is scary what I've seen him do in an Arsenal shirt I wear at Real Madrid I thought he'd be playing in this team right now but he doesn't play for Arsenal he almost feels like he's third choice for Arsenal right now so Nico O 'Reilly I think has done brilliant for Man City but I'd just go with Lewis Hall I think he's a fantastic full-back I'd go with him and I'd go with what Jimmy said before about Luke Shaw he's got that experience as well played for Manchester United the weekends did well but he's played for England before in big games what I also would do I'm a big fan of Tino Liveramento and I know he has injury problems but he can play right back and left back if he has a real emergency in terms of two left backs being out and I'd also just put Trent in there maybe one of the almost wild cards that we've been talking about Trent would be one of the wild cards not even for the fact that he's the right back just for the fact of his quality and there could be a situation where a penalty shootout I'd fancy Trent to score a penalty like he did in the last tournament.

12:14But also there might be a situation where you've got 10 minutes to go. You need a goal. You're not going to bring Liveramento on for Rhys James, let's say. We need to get Trent on the pitch. We just need quality on the pitch for 15, 20 minutes to try and get us a goal or go and win us a game or get us to extra time. And I just think his quality on the ball, I'm not really thinking of him playing right back in a game against a top winger. I'm not thinking that. I'm just thinking how good a footballer he is. I would want that as a wild card and have the option of bringing him off the bench Does that sound like a sensible decision Jimmy?

12:46I can see the idea behind it

12:48Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:But? Yes I think at the moment where Trent is there are better ones than Go on then than Trent Who's got better quality than him there? Not better quality That's what I'm bringing him for Yeah but he's not No that's good but he's not bringing that quality at the moment he's not playing his best football no he's not he's injured he's not playing is he well he hasn't been playing who would you take Jimmy from the fullbacks I would take Tino I think you're you're right with Tino I would definitely take O 'Reilly yeah I think he brings a size as well what is different than Luke Shaw even though it feels almost like he's the guy in possession in some ways at the moment because he's been in there and he's been involved Yeah, he is.

13:40Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:I can understand that Lewis Hall takes your eye. But I really like O 'Reilly. I really like Liveramento. James is just a must, but also can play defensive midfielder. So you have two for one. From what you've seen of Rhys James around the England camp as well, is he someone that can really emerge as a big leader in the England team? In a similar sort of way he has at Chelsea? Best right back in the country at the moment. Best right back for me. Can do everything, can defend 1v1, can play in midfield, can attack, can score free kicks, scores penalties, leads in a different way. He's not a screamer.

14:26Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:He's a talker. He does his business on the pitch. He leads from the front. The only thing is, can he play every three games? But he's getting managed at the moment really well by Chelsea. He seems to have got over his injury problems. Right, let's have a look at the centre-backs. We've gone with Gay already and Esri Konza, who've been frequently used by Thomas Tuchel. So we need at least two more of this list, Jamie. And I suppose that you have to put a question on quite a few of them because of fitness, which gives you a bit of a headache. Yeah, listen, John Stones has been, you know, the best centre-back, English centre-back of his generation.

15:02And he's just so unfortunate with injuries. and I just... We've got Liv Rimento in the squad and he's had a few injury problems as well but he's almost in there as a squad player to cover sort of positions. With John Stones, I just fear whether he's going to play enough football between now and the end of the season. I hope I'm wrong. It doesn't look like he's going to get a new contract at Manchester City. I think his time's going to be up maybe at the end of the season. But when I look at the contenders and I know Dan Bairn's been in that squad a lot and he's thought of really well by Thomas Tuchel but I'm a fan of Chalibur.

15:33I think he's been fantastic since he's come back from Crystal Palace to Chelsea and when I think of those Chelsea centre-backs I think he's the one who's emerged out of those five or six so I all thought we're at the same level he's the one who's emerged as almost the leader for me of that centre-back you know players they have at Chelsea so out of those contenders I'd go with Chalibre there and when I look at the outsiders I look at those players Gomez injury prone Levi Caldwell still injured Brantwick we saw tonight I'm a huge fan of his and then Tamori listen probably don't see enough of him in AC Milan for being totally honest and Achipanga's still a young player I think if Harry Maguire can stay fit and build a partnership with Martinez at Manchester United they did really well yesterday it's one game or two games he's had against top opposition Man City and Arsenal I would take Harry Maguire before I'd take Dan Byrne I think he's got the edge as a player but he's also got great experience playing for England and in tournaments and Jimmy knows better than me you said he's a fantastic guy to have in the squad.

16:33A real leader. So for me, Chalibet and Harry Maguire would definitely join the other two in there. Scores goals.

16:40Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:Set pieces. Takes penalties. Yeah. Leader in the... Maybe you can't take Maguire and Stones. Maybe there's a problem there because they're both fitness concerns. You can take one, Jimmy. Who are you taking? Between Stones and Maguire? Don't say that. Don't have it now. Would you find a way to get them both in? You take both? They're totally different. Would you take both then? Take that risk? No, only if they are fit. Only if they are fit, fit, fit. Then you take them. Because, yeah, they have to be fit. And they have to be able to play every three matches. They have to be ready. I think if you're going to take an extra centre-back there, you're probably bringing somebody who's not going to play.

17:25I think you're probably looking at maybe one of the younger ones. Maybe a Brantwaite or a Levi Colwell if he comes back. but if Brantwit fitted earlier and played a lot more football between now and the end of the season, I think you'd probably take, as I said, one of those younger ones.

17:37Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:The good thing with Colwell is when he comes back in March, will that be enough? I don't know. But he's different than all the others. He's left-footed. You can play three at the back. He can play the left one of the three. If you play a four, you have more balance with the left-footed. so he does give something different than the others have you know and he finishes the the season before he got injured really really well if he can pick up that form you have a hell of a player perhaps he's worth waiting for Levi Colwell let's have a look where we've got to then with Jamie's squad so far we've done the goalkeepers Pickford Henderson and Trafford we have the fullbacks so We've gone with five, with Trent Thomas as the wild card.

18:28And then the centre-backs, four options, Konza, Gehi, Chalaba and Harry Maguire, who's come back from Manchester United in fine form in the last two games. Two centre midfield players already, Anderson and Rice, who've been regular features under Thomas Tuchel so far. So who are we going to add to this group? And I suppose the conversation, first of all, is going to be how many are we going to add to this group of central midfield players? Another two? Listen, what you've got to remember, I've got such admiration for him. Another three, maybe. Yeah. Jordan Henderson is going to go. Thomas Tuuk is going to put him in the squad.

19:03And again, it may not be played too often, but come off the bench, almost be a character, a leader. And the one thing that stood out with Thomas Tuuk when he first joined the England team and the squad, I think he felt there was a lack of leaders in the squad. Because Jordan Henderson, I don't think was picked initially. I think it was a good few months before he brought him back. Now, Jordan Henderson isn't in. the actual Brentford team. Can you take him if he's not playing any football? But when you're talking about 26 players, I think you maybe can. Because I think he's not just in there for the football.

19:32He's had an amazing England career. He's been a huge leader there. I think vice-captain at times as well. So I think he'll be almost brought as a wild card to maybe bring on in a certain situation. Different to Trent, maybe to hold on to a game, but also to almost maybe be a bridge between the coaching staff and the playing staff. What's your experience of Jordan Henderson in that circumstance? If he was going and not playing?

19:57Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:Top, top, great character, great person in the team. He's going to want to play because that is just his character. But when he's not, he is a captain. He's a captain and he will do the right thing. Do we see him going? I don't know. I think he will. You have got Anderson there. What's your doubt on him, sorry? No, it's just, at the moment, there are better players in better form at the moment. But I do understand what you're saying. You're taking him because he's a leader, because that's what you need. But you don't want to get just passengers. Jimmy, where are you on Elliot Anderson? is a certainty of Jamie's?

20:52Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:He's a certainty and everybody is raving about it. But yes, he is playing well. I'm not convinced yet because England hasn't played yet against the Spains, against Brazil, against the France, against those kind of teams. I want to see him first. I want him to be given the opportunity first against these kind of teams and then make my assessment. What's your opinion then on Adam Wharton because for me he goes and Elliot Anderson is in the England team right now ahead of Adam Wharton who's not always in the squad but I would put Adam Wharton in you're a fan of his aren't I'm a fan of Adam Wharton he came with us he was not out of place yes certain players were in front of him but he coped really really well a great passer you can say mobility wise is that a problem for him it doesn't look like it in the Premier League a hell of a vision I really really like it something different perhaps to what England has elsewhere Kobi Meynu is also in there Jamie would you have said that two weeks ago who?

22:04Kobi Meynu no but listen not just on the two performances it's also I've got to think of what he's done for England he's played in a final he was in the last tournament two years ago now he's got to have a good run between now and the end of the season but what we saw him do for England I always go back to the Holland game I think that was the game that maybe brought him in I don't know if it was the game before but I remember the Holland game was that the quarterfinal or the semi-final that was the semi-final was it his performance that night at such a young age on that stage with so much at stake for his country it was like he was just playing with his mates or he was still playing in Manchester United Academy and I was just like I couldn't believe that because we've all been there in big games and what you feel going into it the nerves of it the pressure of it as a young man.

22:49He was absolutely fantastic. He'd been brilliant in the last two games. He needs to keep that going but there's no doubt he has the quality to play at that level because he's already proven it two years ago.