Latest on squad announcements, injuries, tickets and more

Spain trust tin Lamal

Luis de la Fuente has named Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams in his 26 despite late-season muscle injuries to both. He says they will be fit for the opener against Cape Verde in Atlanta on 15 June. Spain are favourites according to Opta’s pre-draw supercomputer, winning the tournament in 17% of 10,000 simulations. The case rests heavily on Yamal and Williams as the elite dribbling and chance-creation pair around a Pedri-Rodri-Zubimendi midfield. Yamal led Euro 2024 in chances created with 19. Williams led the tournament in xA at 2.1

Worth noting: zero Real Madrid players in the 26, a historic absence.

Brazil blend the past and the future

Carlo Ancelotti’s has announced his World Cup squad and the headline was a return for Neymar after a two-and-a-half-year international absence. Despite being 34 and injury and fitness concerns, the Seleção will be once again pinning their hopes on the boy from Mogi das Cruzes.

iThiago Silva (113 caps) is out along with Gabriel Jesus, Richarlison, Savinho and João Pedro. Rodrygo is also ruled out of the tournament entirely after tearing his ACL.

Endrick and Igor Thiago come in to give a much younger forward line a different shape.

England specialise.

Thomas Tuchel’s announced England’s most controversial squad in decades, omitting Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Morgan Gibbs-White and Harry Maguire. Ivan Toney was recalled on the back of 32 goals in 32 Saudi Pro League games for Al-Ahli.

Tuchel framed it as: “trying to build the best possible team, which is not necessarily the 26 most talented players.”

Many will disagree, particularly if England make a slow start.

France say their farewell.

This is Didier Deschamps’ last tournament after fourteen years in the role. Mbappé captains, Dembélé is in, Mateta has been preferred to Kolo Muani, Camavinga is out. France land in Group I alongside Norway (Haaland and Ødegaard), Senegal (Mané) and Iraq. Opta’s model has France second favourites at 12.78%.

Player for player, the strongest squad at the tournament and will be hoping to go one better than in Qatar.

Injury watch.

The list of players ruled out grows by the week. Hugo Ekitike (France, torn Achilles). Rodrygo (Brazil, ACL). Serge Gnabry (Germany, adductor). Xavi Simons (Netherlands, ACL). Matthijs de Ligt (Netherlands, chronic back). Fermín López (Spain, fractured fifth metatarsal). Racing the clock: Yamal and Williams for Spain, Jamal Musiala for Germany, Cristian Romero for Argentina.