When Thomas Tuchel submitted a provisional 55-man England squad for the World Cup, the names that stood out weren't just the headline stars — they were the quiet comeback stories tucked within the selection. Among them: Danny Welbeck, a veteran striker who has spent much of his career in the shadows of brighter marquee names, is quietly enjoying his most prolific season in years with 14 goals for Brighton's Fabian Hurzeler. Yet remarkably, he's never actually broken into one of Tuchel's squads before. Now, finally, he has a seat at the table.
It's a theme that runs through much of this provisional list. Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, just 21 years old, earned his first senior England call-up in November — a milestone moment for a player who has been quietly building something special on the south coast. Though omitted from Tuchel's previous squad, his presence in a 55-man pool signals real opportunity ahead of the tournament.
The right-back position offers perhaps the most compelling subplot. Tuchel's first choice is Chelsea's Reece James, who has only recently returned from injury himself — not ideal preparation for a World Cup. Behind him, Newcastle's Tino Livramento remains unavailable, though there is genuine hope he will recover in time. Arsenal's Ben White, meanwhile, is a major doubt with a knee injury sustained at West Ham. Even Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold finds himself in uncertain territory: last year, Tuchel indicated Bayer Leverkusen's Jarrell Quansah — a natural centre-back — was ahead of him in the race for that right-back berth.
Then there is Luke Shaw, whose England career appeared to be fading. The Manchester United left-back hasn't featured for the Three Lions since the Euro 2024 final defeat against Spain, with injuries keeping him on the periphery. But Shaw has played 36 times for United this season, demonstrating the kind of consistency that catches a manager's eye. His recall would be a quietly emotional story — a player written off, fighting his way back.
What Tuchel has assembled is not merely a squad but a landscape of possibilities. Injuries have complicated selection, yes. But within that uncertainty, doors are opening for players who might otherwise have been overlooked. For Welbeck, for Scott, perhaps for Shaw — this provisional list represents something rare: genuine belief that the World Cup stage might finally be within reach.