Chalobah call-up fits Tuchel pattern
· Yahoo Sports
Thomas Tuchel's decision to call up Trevor Chalobah after Tino Livramento's injury makes sense if you follow the pattern of his squad selections so far.
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Tuchel has a system that he is unlikely to change mid-tournament - and he has opted for tall, positionally versatile players.
In addition to the 11 players who started the last game against Costa Rica, only Marc Guehi, Marcus Rashford and Morgan Rogers are also likely to contest starting positions. These 14 will carry the load of England's minutes.
The rest of the squad, in Tuchel's words, are "specialists" who can provide tactical solutions depending on the state of the game - think Ivan Toney or Dan Burn, or players who cultivate a strong team environment like Jordan Henderson.
Chalobah ticks many of these boxes. He is a tall, versatile defender capable of playing as a centre-back or full-back, who is commended for his work ethic and personality within a squad environment.
It is important to note that Jarell Quansah, Ezri Konsa, John Stones and Djed Spence, also versatile defenders, have all played at right-back too.
Tuchel will be hoping Reece James, familiar with the demands of this system, will play every game, but in deciding not to call up the likes of Lewis Hall or Trent Alexander-Arnold, he is sticking true to picking a squad that minimises the potential outside noise asking why big-name bench players are not starting.