Thomas Tuchel raised eyebrows when he announced his 26-man England squad for the World Cup, leaving out several high-profile names. Ivan Toney’s shock call-up grabbed headlines, but Phil Foden and Cole Palmer were among the notable absentees, paying for mixed club form in a competitive attacking midfield. Harry Maguire was particularly vocal, saying he was “shocked and gutted” to miss out on a third World Cup.
Tuchel effectively has an entire team of established internationals watching from home. Here is an XI of England stars not selected: goalkeeper Nick Pope, who was Jordan Pickford’s understudy under Gareth Southgate but has fallen behind Dean Henderson and James Trafford; right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose defensive vulnerabilities have not won over Tuchel despite two World Cup campaigns; centre-backs Levi Colwill, sidelined by a serious knee injury until May, and Harry Maguire, whose club renaissance at Manchester United was not enough to earn a spot.
Left-back Lewis Hall, impressive at Newcastle, lost out to Djed Spence; midfielders Adam Wharton, a surprise pick for Euro 2024, and Morgan Gibbs-White, who impressed for Nottingham Forest but was overlooked for Eberechi Eze; and forwards Jarrod Bowen, a regular under Southgate but with declining form, and the marquee absentees Phil Foden and Cole Palmer, both victims of intense competition in creative roles.
