'Brain fart' - England fans baffled as Thomas Tuchel prepares experimental line-up for Andorra clash including Reece James at left-back

Tuchel has chosen to field an experimental starting XI against Andorra on Saturday. This includes right-back Reece James playing left-back and midfielder Curtis Jones playing right-back, while Declan Rice is rested. Some commenters on social media described this call by Tuchel as a "brain fart".

@Na5_10ii wrote on X: "What in the brain fart is this?"

While @Faulks1993 commented: "I mean surely he’s not going to start a RB at LB to then play a CM at RB??? Especially when there’s players available for them positions."

@JME_XIV tweeted: "I’ve had enough, sack him," and @FeatherFastCFC put: "Every manager jumping on this inverted fullback gimmick is extremely cringe."

Finally, @FootyIsThe0ne added: "Thomas Tuchel is a saboteur and nobody can convince me otherwise."

Tuchel took over as England manager earlier this year, and so far, they have two wins from two 2026 World Cup qualifying games. This away fixture is likely to be a more difficult test for the Three Lions but after a long domestic season, it seems Tuchel is willing to try different combinations, while resting key players such as Rice and Bukayo Saka. Ultimately, if they win the contest, all of this will be forgotten.

After this World Cup qualifier in Barcelona, Tuchel's England side take on Senegal in a friendly fixture on Tuesday. They will not play another World Cup qualifier until September, highlighting how little time the German has with the English players.