The Three Lions begin their FIFA World Cup Send Off Series with a friendly at Wembley Stadium against the inaugural winners, Uruguay.
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A chance for some players to prove themselves
These friendlies against Uruguay and Japan provide an opportunity for some fringe players to prove to Thomas Tuchel that they should be included in the World Cup squad.
11 of the 35-man squad will join up ahead of the Japan friendly on Tuesday evening.
Players confirmed to be missing the Uruguay friendly:
Dean Henderson, Dan Burn, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Nico O'Reilly, Elliot Anderson, Declan Rice, Morgan Rogers, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka.
The main players who have an opportunity to impress are those in attack, with Jarrod Bowen being one of them in particular.
Sitting on 14 goal contributions in the Premier League this season, the highest of any English player, gives him an opportunity, and with no Bukayo Saka for the friendly against the South American side, Friday night provides a chance for him to stake his claim for a spot at right wing in Tuchel’s side.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is also aiming to boost his selection chances. By performing strongly in this friendly, he can show Tuchel he deserves a place on the plane to the World Cup.
It’s one of the unique stories of the footballing season. Having for so long been a free agent, Leeds United gave him an opportunity, and he has definitely repaid that.
Ten goals in the Premier League is a high he has not achieved since the 20/21 season, when he finished on 16. That was also the last time Calvert-Lewin was in the England squad.
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A test against a challenging nation
England are most certainly trying to test themselves in terms of opponent level during this international break.
Uruguay finished fourth in their qualification group on 28 points with seven wins, seven draws, and four losses from 18 games.
La Celeste has struggled at the World Cup since the semi-finals in 2010. Beaten by Colombia in the Round of 16 in 2014, when James Rodriguez scored “that” volley.
In 2018, they were beaten in the quarters by eventual winners France, and in Qatar 4 years ago, they were grouped despite beating Ghana on the final matchday, the same side that they controversially knocked out in South Africa 2010.
With Marcelo Bielsa, there is for sure going to be a high-pressure side, as he returns to England for the first time since leaving Leeds in 2022.
Though he is currently under huge pressure to turn things around ahead of the tournament in the summer.
The last international break saw Uruguay thumped 5-1 by Pochettino’s United States, a result that was seen very badly in South America, so Bielsa will definitely be with the feeling that tonight is more than just a friendly.
