England analysis: How Man City’s Nico O’Reilly can fit into Thomas Tuchel’s 2026 World Cup squad

England is not short of talent; they are saturated with it. The challenge has been arranging that abundance into a balanced, cohesive team – particularly down the left side, where structure has often looked uneven.

It is into this very gap that Nico O’Reilly has emerged, a versatile midfielder capable of operating across multiple roles and offering a tactical intelligence that could help England’s World Cup hopes, writes Sports News Blitz’s Ruben Picardo Ashworth.

World Cup success

The upcoming tournament feels defining for England considering they have lost the last two Euro finals and were beaten in the quarter-finals against France at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Under Gareth Southgate, England turned into contenders, but against the best, the team’s structural rigidity was often exposed.

Since Thomas Tuchel’s arrival, England have a newfound balance, combining defensive discipline with technical quality and controlled progression.

But without evolution, control eventually hits a ceiling and O’Reilly’s emergence offers a solution, bringing flexibility that could provide the next step in England’s progression.

Brace against Newcastle

The 20-year-old scored his first Premier League brace on Saturday in a vital 2-1 victory against Newcastle to keep the title race very much alive.

A number 10 in his younger days, he has played the majority of the season as a makeshift left-back before recently being pushed into a more advanced role.

Pep Guardiola told TNT Sports: “He played full-back, holding midfielder – he can now play in his position.

“What a player. He makes an incredible step. Nico gives us in the middle that physicality that we need.”

The Manchester City academy graduate has six goals and five assists this season, scoring three of them in his last two league matches.

With the tactical knowledge received from Guardiola and the natural attributes he possesses, O’Reilly has quickly emerged as a player to watch.

His positional intelligence, physicality, and tempo discipline are prominent qualities Tuchel will be interested in.

READ MORE: England women squad news: Who’s in and who’s out for the World Cup qualifiers?

O’Reilly’s potential positions

Unfortunately, his most natural role may already be occupied by football’s most sought-after talents.

Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham – if fit – look to be nailed-on starters.

But O’Reilly has that flexibility which changes the conversations surrounding his potential selection.

The most natural entry point for him into the team remains as the inverted left-back.

His composure and central instincts could help support build-up play against high-pressing opposition, allow wingers to stay wide, and aid forward progression.

An extra body in the centre can offer passing angles to escape pressure and defensive protection against counter-attacks.

And O’Reilly’s education at City positions him as a viable option.

Getting into the midfield seems difficult, but healthy competition amongst team-mates brings intensity and drive, creating an environment of relentless improvement, where every training session becomes a test of focus, skill, and decision-making.

O’Reilly’s ability to switch between roles without losing composure adds a layer of unpredictability England can exploit, especially in tight matches where space is at a premium.

His vision and tactical awareness allow him to hold shape when full-backs advance and seamlessly link the defence and attack, offering both stability and creativity.

In essence, while the starting midfield may be dominated by established stars, O’Reilly brings a blend of versatility, calmness, and technical finesse that allows tactics to change mid-game, which could prove decisive on football’s biggest stage.

Modern tournaments reward squad depth, and a player capable of covering midfield and full-back is not a luxury but an insurance.

In this sense, O’Reilly may not be an initial starter, but having a player capable of slotting into multiple positions gives England options to adapt in tight games.

There remains a risk of selecting potential over experience, though.

After all, he has made only two appearances for England and never featured in an international tournament.

Yet, international caps are about trust and not just form.

For O’Reilly, the tension lies between promise and proof – what he might offer and what he has already demonstrated under pressure.

He enters a crowded landscape, where established internationals possess tournament minutes, dressing-room authority, and managerial familiarity.

In major competitions, managers don’t just pick systems – they pick reliability.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Serie A news: How repeated referee and VAR errors sparked a crisis in Italian football

The Guardiola effect

While his England experience is limited, O’Reilly has already tasted the Guardiola effect – a meticulous focus on tactical intelligence and ball control that transforms potential into practical impact.

The lessons in positional play and tempo control have given him a footballing education few players of his age can claim.

That education, combined with his natural versatility, positions O’Reilly as a potential solution for England’s left-sided imbalance.

He may not start, he may not even be central to plan A, but modern competitions reward flexibility and a player who can cover multiple positions reduces squad vulnerability.

Tuchel isn’t afraid to call players up, and in a squad filled with talent, it is the players who can adapt, maintain composure under pressure, and execute the manager’s vision who often make the difference.

For O’Reilly, the World Cup offers a stage not just to showcase ability, but to turn potential into performance.

He may not force his way in, but he embodies a shift in profile.

And in a tournament where margins are decided by control as much as courage, his attributes could give England the subtle edge that separates contenders from champions.

MORE FROM RUBEN PICARDO ASHWORTH: Real Madrid analysis: The importance of including Trent Alexander-Arnold and the need to find a manager capable of winning silverware