Ivan Toney has been named in Thomas Tuchel’s much-changed England squad for the World Cup third-place playoff against France.
Why England Are Playing France
England lost 2-1 to Argentina in the World Cup semifinal, a defeat that pushed them into the third-place playoff match. This is a game many players and fans see as unwanted, since it decides only bronze, not the title, based on reporting from ESPN.
What Changes Tuchel Has Made
Tuchel is rotating his squad heavily for this match. He wants to manage player fatigue and give game time to squad members who have supported the team but played fewer minutes so far in the tournament,

Ivan Toney’s Role In The Squad
Toney is one of several forwards competing for minutes, alongside Eberechi Eze, Marcus Rashford, and Ollie Watkins. These players have seen limited playing time during the tournament and are pushing for a chance to feature against France, based on details from Yahoo Sports.

Other Selection Decisions Tuchel Faces
Tuchel also has choices to make in goal, where he can stick with first-choice keeper Jordan Pickford or give Dean Henderson or James Trafford their first World Cup minutes. At centre-back, options include Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, John Stones, and Dan Burn, or a possible World Cup debut for late call-up Trevoh Chalobah,
Key Absence From The Squad
Jordan Henderson remains unavailable for the match due to a freak arm injury he suffered while celebrating England’s win over Mexico, which required surgery, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
Players Likely To Start Regardless Of Rotation
Despite the wider changes, captain Harry Kane and midfielder Jude Bellingham are both expected to start. Both players have scored six goals each and remain in contention for the World Cup Golden Boot,

Formation And Match Context
Tuchel has generally used a 4-2-3-1 formation throughout the World Cup, and France have used the same setup. The third-place match is being played in Miami under hot conditions, which is another factor in Tuchel’s rotation decisions,
FAQ: Ivan Toney & France vs. England
Q: Why did Thomas Tuchel name Ivan Toney for the France vs. England match?
Q: What match is Ivan Toney featuring in against France?
Q: Has Ivan Toney played much for England at this World Cup?
Q: Will Ivan Toney start or come off the bench vs. France?
Q: How did Ivan Toney return to the England squad this year?
A: Toney earned a surprise recall to Tuchel’s England squad after a spell in Saudi Arabia, marking his first call-up since leaving Brentford for Al Ahli — and his first involvement since Euro 2024’s final defeat by Spain.






















