As Thomas Tuchel prepares to announce his 26-man England squad for the upcoming World Cup, significant omissions are expected, including Manchester City’s Phil Foden, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, and Manchester United’s Harry Maguire.
Maguire expressed his disappointment publicly, stating he was “shocked and gutted” by the decision. The 33-year-old defender has been a prominent figure for England, having played 67 times and scored seven goals. His mother also voiced her discontent on social media, describing the decision as “disgusting.” Despite his strong performances in recent friendlies, Tuchel appears to have opted for other defensive options, including John Stones, Ezri Konsa, and Marc Guéhi.
Foden and Palmer have struggled with consistency throughout the season, which has likely influenced their exclusion. Foden has made 49 appearances for England but has only started 22 Premier League matches this season, while Palmer has scored nine goals in 25 games for Chelsea. Both players were expected to be key contributors but have not met the selection criteria set by Tuchel, who is prioritizing form and team chemistry.
In contrast, Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins is anticipated to be included in the squad after a successful season, which saw him help his team secure the Europa League title. Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney, who has scored 32 goals in the Saudi Arabian league this season, is also expected to be part of the squad.
Other notable omissions include Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White, despite being the top-scoring English player in the Premier League this season alongside Watkins and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Luke Shaw, who had been named in the provisional squad, is also likely to miss out, with Tuchel favoring younger players like Nico O’Reilly and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
The final squad is set to reflect Tuchel’s vision for a balanced team, with a focus on both experience and youth. The World Cup kicks off on June 11, and England will prepare with friendlies against New Zealand and Costa Rica before facing Croatia in their opening match.
