ENGLAND BENCH PRESS

Three Lions have squad goals as Thomas highlights crucial role of subs to cope with World Cup boiling point

- BY JOHN CROSS

THOMAS TUCHEL says England will need their own ‘Pom squad’ at next summer's World Cup.

It is a new catchphrase in rugby where the coach makes a raft of attacking substitutions late on to win the game.

And Tuchel believes it will be impossible for any team to stick with the same starting XI throughout the whole of next summer's tournament which could be played in 40C (104F) heat across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The England head coach is clearly working towards that plan, as he gave a taste of what is to come when he brought on Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Eberechi Eze in the closing 25 minutes against Serbia at Wembley on Thursday.

He believes being able to bring on fast, fresh forwards to win games will be even more crucial next year - and the key to success could be more about the finishers than the starters. Star players may not like being substitutes but Tuchel says it could be even more important for England because so many have endured long, hard gruelling seasons in the Premier League.