England manager Thomas Tuchel has brought Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer back into his squad for the upcoming Nations League window, signalling that both players remain in contention despite their controversial omission from the World Cup. The recall comes as Tuchel prepares for four matches during an extended international break following this weekend's club fixtures, with the squad featuring a mix of established stars and players seeking redemption.
Tuchel emphasised that selection remains fluid and conditional on form.
"The door is always open,"he said, before adding a pointed caveat:
"They had a good start to the season. They never did something wrong. We just chose different players."The message was clear—reinstatement does not guarantee retention.
Alexander-Arnold, the 27-year-old Real Madrid right-back, has not featured for England since June 2025, when he appeared as a substitute in a 1-0 victory over Andorra. His absence from the World Cup squad drew significant criticism, yet Tuchel has now given him a platform to prove his worth.
"He was never off the list. He was never non-selectable for us, and it is his chance to show, come to camp and be the best version of himself."At club level, Alexander-Arnold has made five appearances for Real Madrid this season, including three starts, and has registered one assist. He has played in midfield during some of those outings, but Tuchel confirmed he will be deployed as a full-back for England.
Palmer, the 24-year-old Chelsea forward, last represented England in a 1-0 friendly defeat to Japan in March. Since then, his domestic form has improved markedly, with four goals and two assists across six games this season.
"Cole has his starts that he always had but he has his numbers back—he has his assists back, he has decisive goals back—so that is why he is in the squad."Tuchel stressed that Palmer, like Alexander-Arnold, must demonstrate his quality in the international environment.
"It is one thing to be nominated, like with Cole, and getting your ticket back in the squad but it's another thing to perform for England. Cole needs to step up when he comes and he needs to show these kind of numbers to get his place, keep his shirt and justify the nomination."
Notably, Manchester City's Phil Foden remains absent from the squad, a decision Tuchel did not elaborate on. According to reports from major sports outlets, Foden's continued omission has drawn attention as the manager reshapes his squad following the World Cup campaign.
Squad composition and notable inclusions
The recalled squad, formally announced by Tuchel, comprises 26 to 27 players and balances experience with fresh opportunities. The goalkeeping contingent includes Jordan Pickford of Everton, Jason Steele of Brighton, and James Trafford of Leeds United. The defensive line features Alexander-Arnold alongside Jarrad Branthwaite of Everton, Trevoh Chalobah of Como, Marc Guehi of Manchester City, Lewis Hall of Newcastle United, Ezri Konsa of Arsenal, Tino Livramento of Newcastle United, Nico O'Reilly of Manchester City, and Jarrell Quansah of Bayer Leverkusen.
The midfield includes Elliot Anderson of Manchester City, Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid, Myles Lewis-Skelly of Arsenal, Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United, Palmer, Declan Rice of Arsenal, and Alex Scott of Bournemouth. Both Scott and Rio Ngumoha, a Liverpool winger, return after featuring in the pre-World Cup squad. The forward line comprises Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Leeds United—whose three Premier League goals have helped the club reach third place—Eberechi Eze of Arsenal, Anthony Gordon of Barcelona, Harry Kane of Bayern Munich, Ngumoha, Marcus Rashford of Manchester United, Morgan Rogers of Chelsea, and Bukayo Saka of Arsenal.
Several World Cup squad members have been omitted due to injury. Dean Henderson, Jordan Henderson, Reece James, Djed Spence, and John Stones all miss out on this occasion. Other notable absentees include Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White, Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton, and Manchester United's Harry Maguire.
What are the upcoming fixtures?
England will face a demanding schedule across September and October. The Three Lions host World Cup winners Spain at Wembley on Saturday, 26 September, before travelling to the Czech Republic on Tuesday, 29 September. They then visit Croatia on Saturday, 3 October, with the Czechs returning to Wembley on Tuesday, 6 October. These Nations League matches represent England's first competitive action since their World Cup semi-final exit.
How does this recall reflect on the World Cup campaign?
England's World Cup journey ended in disappointment when they were beaten 2-1 by Argentina in the semi-finals, despite taking a 1-0 lead. The team conceded two late goals, prompting criticism from former captain Wayne Rooney, who suggested the side
"crumbled"and became
"too passive,"a pattern he attributed to managerial decisions. Despite missing out on a first men's World Cup final in 60 years, England recovered to defeat France 6-4 in the bronze-medal match and finished third.
Tuchel has reflected on the tournament and indicated a willingness to adjust his tactical approach.
"The more I reflect on it, it's maybe more buying into our strengths and playing more minutes like we played in the second half against Croatia and the first half against France. Buying into these strengths because we get a lot of value out of it. We get a lot of connection to the fans. This is what the Premier League reflects."He acknowledged that his preference for control may need to be tempered.
"Football is about adapting to situations, and football without any control is sometimes hard to digest for a coach if you look at the 6-4 against France—but people talk about it like it's one of their most nicest experiences ever. Maybe I have to compromise in my wish and urge for control—for a little bit more chaos, embrace the chaos, and maybe it brings out the best [in us]."
Tuchel also addressed criticism of his defensive substitutions during the Argentina match, noting that supporter feedback has focused on positive moments rather than tactical minutiae.
"I tell you something, 99.9% of the fans don't speak about substitutions and tactical things. They speak about where they have watched the Mexico game, they speak about the second-half energy of the Croatia match. They speak about how nerve-wracking it was to watch our match against DR Congo and where they celebrated."
What is the significance of these recalls?
The return of Alexander-Arnold and Palmer signals Tuchel's openness to reconsidering players who were excluded from the World Cup squad. However, his repeated emphasis on performance suggests that sentiment alone will not secure their places. Both players will be acutely aware that this window represents a genuine opportunity to stake a claim for future selection, but only if they deliver on the pitch. The Nations League matches offer a chance for squad rotation and evaluation as England prepares for the next phase of their competitive calendar.
According to multiple international sports sources, the squad announcement reflects Tuchel's pragmatic approach to team building, balancing experience with the need to integrate players who have impressed at club level since the World Cup.
Key Facts
- Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer return to the England squad for Nations League matches against Spain, Czech Republic, and Croatia in September and October after being omitted from the World Cup selection.
- Alexander-Arnold has not played for England since June 2025; Palmer last featured in a March friendly against Japan.
- Phil Foden remains absent from the squad, alongside injured World Cup players including Reece James, John Stones, and Dean Henderson.
- England will play four Nations League matches across the international window, beginning with Spain at Wembley on 26 September.
- Tuchel has indicated a willingness to adjust his tactical approach following England's World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, emphasising the need to embrace more attacking football.
