Three Top-20 Teams Played, No Wins. Should Tuchel Be Concerned?

Three top-20 sides faced by Thomas Tuchel's England - and still nary wins.

The Three Lions breezed done qualification for nan World Cup winning each of their 8 games without conceding a goal.

But after losing 1-0 to Japan, nan world's 18th-ranked side, astatine Wembley successful England's past lucifer earlier Tuchel names his World Cup squad, questions astir whether nan Three Lions struggle erstwhile they travel up against elite nations are being asked.

After their nonaccomplishment astatine Wembley, which saw Japan go nan first Asian broadside to hit England, nan Three Lions extremity nan March world break without a win.

There is an statement that Tuchel experiemented pinch his line-ups successful past June's 3-1 nonaccomplishment to 14th-ranked Senegal, nan 1-1 tie pinch 17th-ranked Uruguay and successful nan Japan defeat, thing he would not do astatine a awesome tournament.

But critics will propose that nan England head should beryllium utilizing these games to find his champion XI, and get them fresh for nan situation that is coming astatine this summer's World Cup, particularly arsenic nan sides that England did not look nan aforesaid tests successful qualification.

Serbia, England's toughest oppnent successful qualification, are classed 39th successful nan world, and were comfortably beaten 5-0 distant by England and 2-0 astatine Wembley successful November.

The biggest interest for England and for Tuchel is what they will do without skipper and grounds goalscorer Harry Kane if he is not available.

Kane missed nan crippled against Japan aft picking up a sound successful training and England, who lacked ideas successful attack, do not person a campaigner who is fresh to beryllium his back-up.

Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden was trialled arsenic a mendacious 9 and did not person a bully nighttime but Tuchel has said this model has provided him "more clarity" than questions astir his side.

"I americium disappointed, everyone is." Tuchel said. "I knew that we had a apical exam successful this model because our players are dense successful nine shot and successful European shot successful nan astir beingness toughest convention that location is.

"We played against 2 top-20 teams, good drilled and very bully opponents who arrived pinch their champion line-up

"We had large changes successful nan mediate of camp, abruptly aft nan [Uruguay] lucifer we had 7 aliases 8 injuries who had to leave.

"It is not an excuse, it is conscionable an mentation why things are not perfectly soft and perfectly astatine nan highest level we expect."