Thomas Tuchel has been bold with some surprise names included and omitted from his 26-man England squad for this summer’s World Cup.
Tuchel has said he would be willing to drop the most talented players if it was right for the team, but the decision to leave Cole Palmer, Harry Maguire and Phil Foden at home is especially daring – proof that the German is willing to stand by his forthright words.
In-form Morgan Gibbs-White is unfortunate to miss out, while Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton is another surprise absentee. Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo is named, with Saudi-based Ivan Toney possibly the most staggering inclusion. Bayer Leverkusen’s Jarell Quansah and Newcastle defender Dan Burn keep Maguire out.
England squad in full
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, James Trafford, Dean Henderson
Defenders: Marc Guehi, Dan Burn, Jarell Quansah, Ezri Konsa, John Stones, Tino Livramento, Reece James, Nico O’Reilly, Djed Spence
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, Elliot Anderson, Jordan Henderson, Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, Eberechi Eze
Forwards: Noni Madueke, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney, Bukayo Saka.
The 7 biggest calls
- Harry Maguire – Out
- Kobbie Mainoo – In
- Djed Spence – In
- Ivan Toney – In
- Cole Palmer – Out
- Phil Foden – Out
- Trent Alexander-Arnold – Out
Other notable omissions: Lewis Hall, Morgan Gibbs-White, Adam Wharton, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Danny Welbeck, Levi Colwill, Fikayo Tomori, Luke Shaw, Jarrod Bowen.
Tuchel has got this badly wrong
This squad has certainly got people talking. Some huge calls from a manager famed for not being afraid to upset the applecart.
While on the face of it, leaving generational talents like Foden and Palmer at home appears a seismic move, both have been out of form for too long for their lack of influence to be easily rectified in a few World Cup group games.
Of the most stellar names to miss out, 66-cap Maguire, one of Manchester United’s most consistent players this term, is the one Tuchel has got badly wrong.
When Maguire sat down with journalists at St George’s Park in March, the thrill of being back in the England fold for the last set of friendlies was etched all over his face. He beamed with pride at being recalled. The fact, after so many caps, it still meant this much to him was heartwarming to witness.
Maguire should not only be in the squad, he could easily have started against Croatia on 17 June. His leadership on and off the pitch is vital and is a key reason United executives were so desperate to tie the 33-year-old up to a new contract.
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He openly admitted in March that he had changed with age to focus solely on the team and not on the individual. Maguire insisted he would be willing to go to the US and play one minute of action all tournament – if he could still help the team in any way, perhaps even offering younger charges advice, he would.
In a tournament that could come down to goals from set pieces, as knockout football often does, Maguire offers more aerial threat than any of his counterparts too.
For a nation that has produced many in the pantheon of central defensive greats, this is arguably the weakest group in English footballing history. Maguire’s absence makes a mediocre set of options look worryingly short.
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