World cup stories: Good camp, bad camp from England's final home friendlies before the finals

Friday's dreary 1-1 draw with Uruguay was followed up by a limp defeat to Japan at Wembley, where the story of the night was just how toothless England looked without Harry Kane leading the line. 

Although there was a wave of pullouts, and the two games were meaningless friendlies at a time when players are more focused on domestic issues, it's still been a disappointing couple of weeks for Tuchel. 

But who has managed to come out of the break with some credit, and which players should be nervously worrying about their plans this summer, with 71 days to go? 

• Read next I 72 days - Zidane loses his head and Italy take the prize

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All his goals from World Cup 2018

 

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Good camp 

Harry Kane 

No, the England captain didn't play a single minute over the two games, but in doing so only furthered his standing as the national team's most important player - and rightfully so. 

Rested on Friday, his back-up options floundered in their understudy duties, and then, having had to pull out of Tuesday's game with a minor knock, Phil Foden struggled in his attempt to serve as a false nine.

The barefaced fact is that without Kane, England's chances this summer are reduced dramatically. This is a player being tipped for the Ballon d'Or in 2026, and his goals and all-around attacking threat are so crucial to Thomas Tuchel's side that without him, it's almost clueless.

Wrap him up in cotton wool, please, because we can already foresee a vintage metatarsal injury ruining everything this summer. 

Jude Bellingham 

Much has been made of Jude Bellingham's relationship with Tuchel since he took over as boss, but whatever he thinks of Bellingham the person, this team is crying out for Bellingham the player.

Denied minutes this week by injury, he saw Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and, to a certain extent, Morgan Rogers fail to claim England's number 10 spot, leaving the door wide open once again for the Real Madrid man to take his place in the starting line-up. 

There's still some convincing to be done, but given the evidence of the last week, it's hard to see Jude not starting against Croatia. 

Robin Jones/Getty Images

James Garner 

England called up 37 players for this international break, and with the small exception of Ben White - barring the boo boys - only ONE player really enhanced his chances of a World Cup place. 

Garner's tidy performance against Uruguay wasn't exactly him bursting onto the international scene, but he impressed the boss enough and may have climbed further up the pecking order. 

The midfielder's direct competition is seemingly Adam Wharton, who had another horribly timed injury and missed the Japan game after a small cameo on Friday and Kobbie Mainoo, who didn't cover himself in glory last night. 

There's still some work to do, but the Everton man is one of the very few who can be pleased with his fortnight's work. 

Bad camp

Thomas Tuchel 

We wonder if Thomas Tuchel could redo this international break, would he have done things slightly differently? 

There was a sensible rationale in calling up so many players, but in the end, did the two camps really work? Did it allow those senior players to almost write off the Japan game? And, was it a wasted opportunity to hone in on a team rather than trying to look at whoever he thinks will take the 20-26th spots in his World Cup squad? 

It just feels Tuchel - at least from an in-game point of view - wouldn't have learned too much from the two dismal performances. Now, what he's seen in training may contradict the notion, but if given a do-over, there's a definite sense that the German may have handled camp slightly differently. 
 

Phil Foden and Cole Palmer 

Lads, I'd start looking at Jet2 now, because based on those two games, both are teetering on the edge of not going this summer - which is a crazy thought.

Friday night was billed as a straight shootout between the pair, as Foden started but offered very little, while Palmer set up White's goal but only showed minor flashes of what he could do. 

Then, on Tuesday, both took to the pitch and failed in their final auditions. In fairness, Foden played out of position, but there still wasn't that zip and swagger about his display that is so often lacking in an England shirt. 

The same with Palmer, who gave possession away for Japan's goal and did little else of note during the game before being replaced. 

In a 26-man squad, there might be room for one of them, but right now, both should be sweating on their World Cup place. 

Getty

Dominic Solanke and Dominic Calvert-Lewin 

Equally, it was a disappointing week for those trying out for the role of Harry Kane's understudy. 

Both Dominics were given a run out on Friday, with Solanke busy but ineffective in the first half and other than missing a sitter, Calvert-Lewis didn't do much to move the needle in the second period. 

He then went home injured, while Foden was preferred in a false nine role instead of Solanke when Kane pulled out with injury against Japan. 

Ollie Watkins must have been grinning like a Cheshire cat on seeing the displays of his rivals, because he must surely be the best option on the showing of the others this break. 
 

 

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