England, 26-man squad named
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), James Trafford (Manchester City)
Defenders: Reece James (Chelsea), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Marc Guéhi (Manchester City), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), John Stones (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Dan Burn (Newcastle), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur)
Midfielders: Declan Rice (Arsenal), Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal)
Forwards: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle)
Thomas Tuchel addressed the fans following the squad announcement:
"It is allowed to dream, I can dream for a little time and then you chunk it up and go little by little. At the first camp, we said, let’s try to win it. The focus will now be on the 10 days of pre-camp.
"You could see in the selections, the idea is to stick with this formation. It should be flexible to change our defensive approach. Will we change our structure? I think we will try to stick with what makes us strong."
"Decisions were difficult, but someone had to make them … the level of emotion and what it means for players, it was very nice to see…I am sure I made the right choices."
"It’s about picking a very balanced squad."
Regarding those omitted, Tuchel confirmed he personally contacted all players:
"Difficult phone calls as I respect all of them. All of them deserved a call up. I called all players that have been in camp. In the end we went back to the evidence of September, October, November.
"Did this mean any of them did anything wrong? No."
He explained the rationale behind squad composition:
"There was no sense in sending five No 10s and asking them to play different positions."
"It’s about the energy and the connection and the trust between me and my players."
"We had to pick a squad that we love, and we really believe in. It comes down to who do we really trust? Who set the standards? Who formed the leadership group?"
"Once the decisions are made it gives you a certain edge, it’s one week we are on the plane, and I can’t wait to coach."
The squad announcement was made live as Tuchel joined the studio in full "Going Live" mode.
"A lot of phone calls in the last three days," he began.
The selections included some surprises, notably Ivan Toney and Djed Spence, while major names such as Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Curtis Jones were omitted.
Fans attending the production expressed their views, with one commenting, "They better win as I’ve used up all my life savings."
The panel featured former players Theo Walcott and Daniel Sturridge. Walcott was a surprise call-up in 2006 and a shock omission in 2010. He missed the 2014 World Cup due to injury, during which Sturridge was a starter.
Discussion turned to Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and his status for upcoming matches. Liverpool manager Arne Slot declined to comment on team selection, emphasizing preparation over speculation.
"Mo was really happy with the style we played last season when we won the league. We both want Liverpool to compete for trophies."
"I don’t think it is that important what I feel about it. What it is important is that we qualify for the Champions League on Sunday, and I prepare Mo and the rest of the team to be ready for the game in the best possible way. That is what matters.
"I was very disappointed after our loss against Aston Villa, because a win would have given us qualification for the Champions League - which we didn’t do. Now there is one game to go and it’s a vital one for us as a club."
Slot also congratulated Arsenal on their league title:
"Let me congratulate Arsenal on winning the league. Winning it here in England is never easy and they have done a tremendous job. 40% of their goals have come from set-pieces. Football has changed and evolved."
Fan reactions to the squad were mixed. Samuel Dodson commented on the perceived unpredictability of the selections:
"On the surface, this squad looks like Tuchel has taken a lead out of the mad hatters book and demanded everyone change places as he tries to shake things up. It’s true of course there have been questions hanging over certain mainstays like Maguire for some time; but one thing that hasn’t seemed in doubt is that those players have formed a core bond of camaraderie which is seemingly the hardest thing to build in international football. If you look at some successful teams over the years, what stands out about the likes of, say, Germany was how consistent their squad selections were. Was it the case that Muller et al were always the most on form German players on the planet? Or was it that their managers recognised familiarity among the squad had greater benefits?
"The instinctive reaction is to feel that such a number of seemingly random call ups (is Spence really the best English player in that position even on form right now?); is to feel it will lead to broken, unbalanced football with players unfamiliar with one another. But then very few of us commentating are Champions League-winning elite-level managers, so I’ve gotta trust Tuchel on this! Hats off to him and would we all like some tea?"
Joshua Keeling expressed a critical view:
"This squad is just bizarre. Spence, Toney, no Maguire, no Palmer, no Gibbs-White. I already thought we’d struggle at this World Cup, but I’m even more convinced now. Rubbish."
Krishna reflected on the pressures facing the England manager:
"Modern football is brutal. And to be the manager of English national team is akin to having a root canal without anesthesia. Everything is measured by the results. No one would care for the process. Gareth Southgate endured it for so long and it is now Tuchel’s turn. By July, Tuchel’s stint with Chelsea will appear a rose-tinted garden in hindsight. Reach Semis or beyond, <whisper> win the damned thing and Tuchel is God. Anything less….. TG columnists will spearhead the inquisition (sorry for being blunt)."
Former players and pundits also weighed in on squad dynamics and player form.
Regarding the final squad member, Djed Spence, the Tottenham full back, was selected for his versatility, able to play on both flanks. Notably, Trent Alexander-Arnold was omitted from the squad.
Ivan Toney’s inclusion is considered a wildcard. Playing in Saudi Arabia, he is accustomed to high temperatures and is known for his penalty-taking skills.
Sholto Maud expressed surprise at the selections:
"Flabbergasted is a word that comes to mind, John."
Meanwhile, Andy Robertson reflected on his journey with Liverpool as he prepares for a potential move to Tottenham, contingent on relegation outcomes:
"We were on the most amazing journey ever, all together. When we started out Mo Salah didn’t sign as the best player in the world or the best winger in the world. Virgil van Dijk had the potential to be but wasn’t the best centre-back in the world. Alisson wasn’t the best goalkeeper in the world. Trent [Alexander-Arnold] wasn’t the best right-back in the world. Hendo [Jordan Henderson] was still trying to find his feet as captain. We were all just on this journey from the bottom to the very top together and climbing that mountain was the best feeling ever."
Barney Ronay commented on Harry Maguire’s omission:
"Harry Maguire: anatomy of how NOT to make a case for being the perfect 7-week back-up squad member. No need for Tuchel to explain now. We all save five mins."
Probable 26-man England squad
David Hytner and Jacob Steinberg provided their analysis and predictions for the final 26-man squad:
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), James Trafford (Manchester City)
Defenders: Reece James (Chelsea), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), John Stones (Manchester City), Marc Guéhi (Manchester City), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Dan Burn (Newcastle), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Djed Spence (Tottenham)
Midfielders: Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), James Garner (Everton), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
Forwards: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli)
Recent reports from David Ornstein and others confirm Trent Alexander-Arnold’s omission and Djed Spence’s inclusion, noting Spence suffered a broken jaw after a collision with Liam Delap of Chelsea on Tuesday.
Regarding the squad selection, it was noted:
"Maguire was the first to go public about being left out, with the defender taking to social media to express disappointment over failing to make the cut, but the most eye-catching omissions came in the attacking areas. Foden and Palmer have had underwhelming seasons for Manchester City and Chelsea respectively and their struggles meant they fell behind the other No 10s at Tuchel’s disposal. Morgan Gibbs-White, who has enjoyed a strong end to the season with Nottingham Forest, is also likely to miss out."
Tuchel’s bold choices include recalling Ivan Toney for the first time in 12 months. Toney, now playing for Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, was part of England’s Euro 2024 squad but has not appeared internationally since a substitute appearance in a friendly defeat by Senegal last June.
It was unclear whether Tuchel would select a conventional striker to support Harry Kane. Ultimately, three strikers are expected to travel to Florida for pre-tournament training, with Ollie Watkins competing with Toney for playing time behind Kane. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Dominic Solanke, and Danny Welbeck were not selected.
As the World Cup fever builds, the announcement coincides with the Premier League’s final day and the Championship playoff final between Hull and Middlesbrough on Saturday, marking a significant day in football.
Fans and analysts continue to debate the squad’s composition and prospects as England prepares for the tournament.
