Tuchel unveils first England squad since World Cup and downplays criticism
Thomas Tuchel unveiled his first England squad since the World Cup and faced the media at Wembley on Friday as he prepared for the start of the Nations League.
Tuchel told reporters that 99.9% of supporters he bumped into did not talk about his substitutions during the Argentina game and said memories were focused on the knockout wins over Mexico and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the 6-4 victory over France for the bronze medal. He insisted the narrative should be directed by that win over France, and joked that his bosses at the Football Association had told him off for his defensive changes against Argentina.
The squad Tuchel named reflects both continuity and change: Noni Madueke, Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney, who were in the 26 selected last summer, have been omitted, and injuries have deprived England of Dean Henderson, Dan Burn, John Stones, Reece James, Djed Spence and Jordan Henderson, creating space for new call-ups. Tuchel said his initial intention had been to maintain World Cup continuity but that the absences forced a shift and allowed for what he described as a sense of renewal.
One of the most notable recalls is Trent Alexander-Arnold, whom Tuchel has brought back after a long absence from international selection; the 27-year-old had not been selected since June 2025. The Real Madrid defender, a former Liverpool right-back, has been in fitful form for José Mourinho’s Madrid and has never established himself with England; Tuchel does not intend to use the 27-year-old as a midfielder and told the newcomers that earning a call-up had to be followed by performing in an England shirt.
Tuchel said he wants to “bottle the brotherhood, the team spirit” from the World Cup, but acknowledged there are technical and tactical flaws to address after the tournament. The memory of his comment after the Argentina game about “ball possession not being part of England’s DNA” remains, and he has spoken about England needing to tap into the pace and power of the Premier League; at the World Cup, the side only really went full throttle in the second half of the win over Croatia and otherwise were overly reliant on stout defending and moments from Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham.
On individual selection and midfield balance, Tuchel accepted there were difficult calls to make: with Declan Rice flagging against Argentina and few alternatives available, and Jordan Henderson out with a broken wrist and aged 36, he selected Kobbie Mainoo but did not use him at the World Cup and said he has a duty to look at Mainoo properly this time. Myles Lewis-Skelly and Alex Scott, who impressed at club level, have been selected; Tuchel remains cold on Adam Wharton, while Morgan Gibbs-White and Josh King were left out and Liam Delap was mentioned as an option over Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Tuchel’s 26-man squad is: Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, James Trafford, Jason Steele. Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarrod Branthwaite, Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Guéhi, Lewis Hall, Ezri Konsa, Tino Livramento, Nico O’Reilly, Jarell Quansah. Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Alex Scott. Forwards: Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Eberechi Eze, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, Rio Ngumoha, Marcus Rashford, Morgan Rogers, Bukayo Saka. The selection includes youth such as Liverpool’s teenage winger Rio Ngumoha and Jarrad Branthwaite, who edged Levi Colwill out in central defence and drew comparison with Dan Burn; Lewis Hall has scope to advance at left-back, and the choice of Cole Palmer over Madueke was presented as a sign of greater attacking versatility, with Palmer described as a better footballer than Madueke.
England begin their Nations League campaign with a home game against Spain, and more than 0.1% of supporters will be watching to see whether Tuchel has learned the lessons from the World Cup.