LONDON (AFP) – Thomas Tuchel said he had “learned a lot” from England’s scrappy 1-1 draw against Uruguay at Wembley even though many of his star players were watching from the stands.

Ben White poked home in the 81st minute to give the home side the lead but the Arsenal defender was adjudged to have fouled Federico Vinas after a VAR review, with Federico Valverde levelling from the spot in stoppage time.

Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice were among the established 11-strong contingent who will join a group that will now be cut down.

England boss Tuchel, who named an expanded 35-man squad for friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, trialled a variety of different players, with Everton midfielder James Garner and Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford making their debuts.

But the German insisted he had learned valuable lessons ahead of the game against Japan on Tuesday – England’s final match before the World Cup, which starts in June. “I learned a lot, because it was a tough opponent and you just see it in the details,” he said. “You learn a lot in the details, also the behaviour, and you see the level.

“If you play against (Manuel) Ugarte, if you play against (Federico) Valverde in midfield, you see the level.

“You play against the winners and these defensive players, it’s a high level and then you instantly see, so we needed this kind of test.”

Tuchel said the match against Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay, who have also qualified for the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States, had been “the test that I expected”.

“It was a bit feisty and tough,” he said. “I knew from months ago that Bielsa called me and told me that they will take it very, very seriously and they will play the best possible team.

“You see in the way they did the substitutions, they were not ready to compromise on anything, so it was difficult.”

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin