Marcus Rashford

Rashford’s selection is the most narrative-rich call in Tuchel’s squad. Eighteen months ago he looked finished as an England regular; the Barcelona loan, and specifically the goals against Real Madrid and in the Champions League knockouts, changed that completely. He gives Tuchel a left-flank attacker with a different profile from Eze — more vertical, more direct, more comfortable starting wide and finishing across the keeper — and a left-footed alternative to Kane in the central role if needed. The 2018 semi-final ghost is still part of his England story, but a productive tournament here would close that chapter for good.

Strengths

• acceleration in the channel running off the left
• left-footed finishing across the keeper
• set-piece delivery from the left
• ability to play centrally as an alternative nine

Recent form

Strong second half of the La Liga season at Barcelona; double-figure goals and assists across all competitions.

Was awarded an MBE in 2020 — at the time the youngest non-Olympic recipient in over a decade — for his work on child food poverty, which forced two government U-turns on free school meals during the pandemic.