England have qualified for their 16th World Cup, but it's now 60 years since their only triumph in 1966. The Three Lions are genuine contenders but arrive in an unsettled mood.

England strolled through qualifying, becoming the first European team to book their spot with two games to spare. However, the group was weak, and recent friendlies saw boos at Wembley after defeats to Senegal and Japan.

Manager Thomas Tuchel raised eyebrows with his squad selection. Creative stars Cole Palmer and Phil Foden were left out after disappointing seasons, along with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Maguire. In came Ivan Toney (playing in Saudi Arabia), 35-year-old Jordan Henderson, and uncapped Djed Spence.

Tuchel defended his choices: "We are trying to build the best possible team, not collect the 26 most talented players. Teams win championships. It's about chemistry."

England face Croatia (June 17, Dallas), Ghana (June 23, Boston), and Panama (June 27, New York) in Group L. Croatia beat England in the 2018 semifinal.

Captain Harry Kane is in scintillating form, scoring 61 goals in 51 games for Bayern Munich. He needs two more World Cup goals to equal Gary Lineker's record of 10.

Jude Bellingham has had a frustrating season with injuries and poor form at Real Madrid, and may start on the bench. Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers has impressed under Tuchel.

Left-back Nico O'Reilly, 21, has emerged as a star for Manchester City with 7 goals and 3 assists in the Premier League, offering a solution to a long-standing problem position.

England should reach the quarterfinals, but their style remains slow and cautious. The question "Is it coming home?" remains unanswered.

Source: www.aljazeera.com