- Published
England's World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina felt like the most painful wound of all as the so-called years of hurt stretched to six decades - but the process of recovery has started swiftly.
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process → publish → recovery
The extended international break and four Nations League games have afforded head coach Thomas Tuchel, so heavily criticised for his defensive tactics in that defeat in Atlanta, the opportunity to rebuild and rehabilitate from that disappointment.
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break → afford → disappointment
Tuchel's squad included players recalled after being excluded from his plans and others who were new to the England fold, while mainstays like captain Harry Kane continued as the centrepiece of his plans.
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mainstays → include → plans
So what has Tuchel learned from the start to England's Nations League campaign?
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Tuchel → learn → campaign
Incomparable Kane leads unstoppable front four
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Kane → lead → four
There was a sense of inevitability that England captain Kane would be the star turn in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Czech Republic as he celebrated equalling Peter Shilton's record of 125 England caps.
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he → be → caps
Kane, still irreplaceable at 33, added to his goals tally as England's all-time record scorer, his total of 91 now 38 ahead of Wayne Rooney, who is in second place in the listings with 53 goals in 120 games.
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who → add → games
And, with Kane still looking in his prime and fully fit, it now seems only a matter of time before he makes history as the first player to score 100 goals for England.
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he → look → England
This alone will have delighted Tuchel, but even more satisfying for the German is that he now presides over an attacking quartet that can pose a threat to any side in world football.
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that → delight → football
Kane is the peerless spearhead, but Anthony Gordon - on target in the three Nations League games against Spain, the Czech Republic and Croatia before being rested here at Wembley - has moved his game on to another level since joining Barcelona from Newcastle.
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Gordon → rest → Newcastle
Gordon is a creator with burning pace, while on the right flank Bukayo Saka has looked rejuvenated after a World Cup during which he was hampered by an Achilles injury, as he proved with two goals in Croatia.
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he → look → Croatia
And, just behind them all, with everything he does stamped with world class, is Jude Bellingham, England's player of the year and the golden future of his country at only 23.
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Bellingham → do → 23
This may be bad news for Chelsea's Cole Palmer, whose withdrawal from England's squad has allowed others to cement their place in front of him, with Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White proving his commitment by cutting short a family holiday to join the squad after being excluded initially.
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White → allow → squad
England's front four looks a natural fit, augmented by Chelsea's Morgan Rogers, while Liverpool's 18-year-old Rio Ngumoha will be an international contender for years to come.
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Ngumoha → look → years
If Tuchel can keep his fab four fit and firing, England will be a danger to any opponents.
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England → keep → opponents
Scott emergence shows midfield strength
In a camp of positives, a major disappointment for England and Tuchel was the injury suffered by Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott after an outstanding debut in the 7-0 win in Croatia.
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disappointment → show → Croatia
Scott slipped seamlessly into England's midfield with powerful running, a complete range of passing and an energy to his link play that made the 23-year-old look perfectly at home at international level.
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old → slip → level
Scott's emergence showed the array of riches Tuchel has at his disposal in the central midfield area, even with Arsenal's Declan Rice, a fixture in the team, out as his load is managed after injury.
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load → show → injury
Indeed, Scott was so impressive that Tuchel said: "Is Declan still for me a fixed point in my team?
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Declan → say → team
Yes, but some other players are coming and impressing and it's an ongoing competition."
It was hardly a shot across Rice's bows, but certainly an indication of the options available to England.
So the thigh injury that ruled him out against the Czech Republic was a blow to Scott and England - as well as Bournemouth, who fear he will be sidelined for two months.
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he → come → months
Elliot Anderson, Manchester City's £116m summer purchase from Nottingham Forest, also goes from strength to strength after a good World Cup, while Tuchel was prepared to give Arsenal's 20-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly his head in central midfield in these Nations League games.
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Tuchel → go → games
Everton's James Garner has also figured and has a big admirer in Tuchel, even referring to him as England's "mini Valverde" - a somewhat tongue-in-cheek reference to Real Madrid midfielder Federico perhaps, but a sign of how highly he is rated.
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he → figure → Federico
Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo pulled out injured while Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton, so highly-rated, has been unable to force his way into Tuchel's plans.
Alexander-Arnold is back - and should be back for good
Tuchel's treatment of Trent Alexander-Arnold had provided a constant backdrop to his time as England head coach, with what appeared to be his mistrust of the Real Madrid right-back's defensive frailties culminating in his exclusion from the World Cup squad.
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what → pull → squad
Alexander-Arnold's card looked marked from the moment Tuchel, after leaving him out of World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia in August 2025, said: "If he wants to have this impact in the English national team then he has to take the defensive part very, very seriously.
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he → look → part
"Because when we are talking, especially about qualifying football, and then tournament football, the one defensive error, the one moment where you are not 100% awake, can be decisive.
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you → talk → football
It can be the moment where you pack your suitcases and go home."
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you → pack → suitcases
Tuchel, however, appeared to set those reservations to one side when he recalled him for these four Nations League games - and Alexander-Arnold responded with performances that simply demand his continued inclusion.
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that → appear → inclusion
The 27-year-old made his first start under Tuchel - in fact his first since scoring in the Nations League win in Finland in October 2024 - against the Czech Republic in Prague, demonstrating the extra dimension he offers England with a world-class cross for Gordon's opener.
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he → make → opener
Alexander-Arnold was a potent force once more against the Czechs at Wembley, forcing a fine early save from keeper Lukas Hornicek with a 30-yard free-kick then providing several more trademark dangerous crosses.
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Arnold → force → crosses
True, any potential defensive deficiencies were not probed, but Alexander-Arnold showed enough class and creation to surely avoid being discarded again by Tuchel.
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Arnold → probe → Tuchel
Impressive Hall stakes his claim
Newcastle United's Lewis Hall emerged as one of the big winners from England's opening round of Nations League matches, making a strong case to become Tuchel's long-term left-back.
Hall stepped in for three matches after Manchester City's Nico O'Reilly, first choice at the World Cup and for the opening game against Spain, returned to his club with an injury.
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O'Reilly → stake → injury
It allowed Hall, who has just signed a new contract tying him to Newcastle until 2031, the opportunity to stake his claim - and he did so in style.
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he → allow → style
The 22-year-old impressed in both games against Czech Republic and also in the rout in Croatia, with one key factor sure to play out in his favour.
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factor → impress → favour
Hall's left-flank partnership with former Newcastle United team-mate Gordon looked a natural fit, the pair working in tandem to perfection in a manner that will give Tuchel serious food for thought.
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that → look → thought
O'Reilly has done nothing wrong, but questions remain as to whether he is a natural left-back or simply a converted midfield player.
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he → do → nothing
Hall looked the part in every respect.
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Hall → look → respect
He has made it difficult for Tuchel to leave him out, the link with Gordon only adding to the attraction for England's head coach.
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link → make → coach
The Aporia
