Thomas Tuchel’s England squad hasn’t even kicked a ball at the 2026 World Cup yet, and his defensive strategy is already under a microscope. Tino Livramento, the Newcastle full-back selected as part of Tuchel’s backline, was ruled out of the tournament on June 16 with a calf injury.
The timing could not be worse. England’s opening match against Croatia is imminent, and the injury has forced a scramble to patch together a defense that was already thin on options by design.
The Livramento problem Tuchel should have seen coming
Livramento’s 2025/26 season at Newcastle was peppered with fitness concerns, including thigh, hamstring, and knee issues that limited his availability throughout the campaign.
Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah received a late call-up as Livramento’s replacement. Chalobah now faces the challenge of integrating into a squad that has already gone through its pre-tournament bonding and tactical preparation.
