Thomas Tuchel has sent Jason Steele to the United States with England as a training goalkeeper, adding the Brighton and Hove Albion man to a World Cup squad built around Dean Henderson, Jordan Pickford and James Trafford.
Tuchel said Steele had been "brilliant" with England and confirmed the 26-man squad would include "three goalkeepers plus Jason Steele". Henderson plays for Crystal Palace, Pickford for Everton and Trafford for Manchester City. Steele had already filled a similar role around the recent friendlies against Uruguay and Japan at Wembley, and the move underlines how much value England are placing on a player whose work around the squad has been praised throughout his time at Brighton.
That praise has followed Steele across four managers at Brighton — Chris Hughton, Graham Potter, Roberto De Zerbi and Fabian Hurzeler — and it explains why he has remained part of England’s wider setup even when he is not among the named matchday keepers. Tuchel also thanked Brighton for being "so co-operative and supportive," a nod to the club’s willingness to release Steele for a role that sits outside the usual limits of a tournament squad.
The selection also shows the shape of Tuchel’s thinking, and it is not the kind that calms everyone down. Danny Welbeck and Jack Hinshelwood were considered but left out, a choice that drew criticism from some fans and media, while Tuchel insisted the point was to build the best possible team rather than simply collect the 26 most talented players.
"I think from day one we were very clear that we are trying to select and build the best possible team, which is not necessarily to select and collect the 26 most talented players," he said. "Teams win championships, it is as simple as that," and "What we are trying to achieve in the summer can only be achieved as a team."
For Steele, the role is unlikely to bring minutes on the field, but it puts him inside a squad being shaped for a serious run at the tournament. For Tuchel, it is another sign that he is prepared to trade a little glamour for reliability, familiarity and cooperation — the less visible ingredients of a World Cup campaign that has to hold together under pressure.
