Tuchel Plans England Midfield Rebuild with Elliot Anderson

England manager Thomas Tuchel is working to establish the ideal central midfield pairing ahead of the 2026 World Cup, experimenting with a 4-2-3-1 system that features two complementary central midfielders. Tuchel has praised Elliot Anderson's promising debut as England's No. 6, highlighting his physicality, mobility, and positive passing, and indicated Anderson is likely to start in upcoming qualifiers. Declan Rice, traditionally a holding midfielder, is being deployed with a more box-to-box role that requires a deep-lying partner to balance the midfield, a combination Tuchel is still refining. Injuries have affected midfield options, with John Stones withdrawing due to fitness issues, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been recalled and is competing for a midfield spot alongside Anderson, Rice, and Jordan Henderson. Tuchel emphasizes the importance of player mobility in his midfield setup and remains confident in finding the right balance despite ongoing challenges. Anderson's recent rise, marked by his creativity and physicality at Nottingham Forest, makes him a key figure in Tuchel's evolving midfield plans.