Thomas Tuchel anxious to avoid more injuries in run-in before naming World Cup squad

Thomas Tuchel admitted he would be watching matches through his fingers for the rest of the season after England’s experimental March meet up made him more certain about his World Cup selection.

The German coach tested a variety of players in the final camp before choosing the 26 players he believes can lead the nation to glory in what will be a hot, taxing summer in North America.

The first wave of Tuchel’s expanded 35-man squad were held to a late 1-1 draw by physical Uruguay on Friday and four days later, his injury-disrupted side toiled to a 1-0 loss against Japan.

Boos greeted the end of England’s final match on home soil before the World Cup and first ever loss to Asian opposition – a friendly Harry Kane , Jude Bellingham and Jordan Henderson were not risked in.

Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and John Stones left the group through injury in recent days and Tuchel lives in fear of more serious issues being sustained during the run-in.

“It will be scary to watch TV on the weekend and through (the rest of the season) because from now on every muscle injury can mean that a player misses out,” the England boss said.

“It’s one thing if players go, if players get injured, which is anyway not nice but then Jordan Henderson, who is a key figure for us in camp, is out, Declan Rice is out, Bukayo is out.

“They are captains for their clubs and they drive the standards. And then Harry Kane drops out so it’s basically the leadership group who is not available. This affects, of course, a group.

“Everyone gave everything and from now on, of course, still now all these injuries, I think, will be still manageable in the window of time that we have to be invested in club football in May and be ready for the World Cup .

“But from now on – the next eight weeks – I am concerned and I hope that that everything goes well for the players, that they stay healthy.”

Tuchel is expected to name his England squad just after the end of the Premier League season, although a date has not been set in stone beyond the need to submit his team before FIFA’s May 31 deadline.

Asked if this complicated March meet up had provided more clarity or questions about his selection, he said: “More clarity. More clarity, clearly.”

There is, though, a lot to digest for Tuchel as preparations for the World Cup step up ahead of their Group L opener against Croatia in Dallas on June 17.

England’s 2018 World Cup semi-final foes sit 11th in FIFA’s world rankings as Tuchel tries to finally topple a side in the top 20 before facing Ghana and Panama.

“It does not give me any concern,” Tuchel said of his record against elite nations, having lost to Senegal and Japan on top of the draw with Uruguay.

“I’m disappointed with the result, everyone is, but I think it is worth to put it into perspective.

“I knew that we have a tough exam in this window because our players are heavily invested in club football, European football and in the (most) physical, toughest league that there is.

“We played against two top-20 teams. Well drilled, very good opponents, who arrived in their best line-up.

“We had a big change in the middle of camp. Suddenly after the match we had seven, eight injuries who had to leave camp.

“So, it’s not an excuse, it’s just an explanation why things are not like perfectly smooth and maybe perfectly on the highest level that we expect – and we expect it always from us.”