Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White has spoken publicly for the first time about his omission from England's World Cup squad, expressing his belief that he did 'more than enough' to earn a place. However, the 26-year-old conceded that he may have fallen on the 'wrong side' of manager Thomas Tuchel's judgement.
Stellar Season Overlooked
Gibbs-White enjoyed a remarkable campaign for Forest, culminating in a stunning free-kick during Sunday's 1-1 draw against Bournemouth. That goal took his season tally to 18 goals and seven assists across 53 appearances in all competitions — the highest combined total among any English Premier League attacking midfielder in the 2025/26 season.
Despite these impressive numbers, Tuchel opted to leave Gibbs-White out of his 26-man squad for the World Cup in North America. Instead, Eberechi Eze, Morgan Rogers, and Jude Bellingham were selected as the three No.10s.
Gibbs-White Responds
Speaking after the Bournemouth draw, Gibbs-White said: 'I know myself I have done more than enough to be in the squad. I just got on the wrong side of someone's opinion. I have been on the wrong side of people's opinions throughout my career so I'm only going to bounce back.'
His stunning 25-yard strike into the bottom corner prompted Forest fans to chant, 'Thomas Tuchel is a w*****'.
Tuchel's Explanation
Tuchel addressed Gibbs-White's omission on Friday, citing the intense competition in his position. Cole Palmer and Phil Foden were also left out. 'There were difficult phone calls,' Tuchel said. 'For some of them, it's just a positional thing to have a balanced squad so we don't bring five No.10s. Even if it was painful, I think it was the right call for England.'
Forest's Key Man
While Gibbs-White may not be part of England's plans, he remains integral to Nottingham Forest. Manager Vitor Pereira emphasised the importance of retaining him ahead of next season. 'I know we want to keep the same players, to bring two or three players to help us balance the squad. In the end, we'll see,' Pereira said.
Gibbs-White's form in the latter part of the season helped Forest secure Premier League survival, finishing five points above the relegation zone. He contributed nine goals and two assists in his last ten top-flight appearances, showcasing the quality Tuchel overlooked.
