England Defender Marc Guehi Forced to Withdraw from Squad
Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi has officially withdrawn from the England squad for Sunday's final 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Albania. The centre-back, who also missed Thursday's victory over Serbia due to a foot injury, has not recovered in time for the Group K finale in Tirana.
Guehi has now returned to his club to continue his rehabilitation, with the hope of being fit for Crystal Palace's Premier League clash with Wolves next Saturday. The Football Association confirmed the news in a statement, noting the player had left the camp at Tottenham Hotspur's training ground.
Tuchel's Selection Dilemma and Qualification Perfection
England manager Thomas Tuchel has decided against calling up a replacement, meaning the Three Lions will travel to Albania with a reduced 24-man squad. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity as Tuchel looks to maintain his side's flawless qualifying record.
England have won all seven of their qualifying matches so far without conceding a single goal, and their place at next summer's World Cup is already secure. This dead rubber allows Tuchel to experiment and finalise his plans for the tournament with only three more matches remaining.
Potential Defensive and Attacking Changes
Guehi's absence means the central defensive partnership of Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa and Manchester City's John Stones could continue. However, Tuchel may also consider giving minutes to other options such as Dan Burn, Trevoh Chalobah, or Jarrell Quansah.
Further up the pitch, changes are also anticipated. Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden are both pushing for starting roles after beginning the Serbia match on the bench. The duo made a significant impact after coming on in the second half, combining effectively for Eberechi Eze's goal that sealed the 2-0 win at Wembley.
Bellingham is likely to replace Morgan Rogers in the starting line-up, while Tuchel has hinted that Foden could be deployed either as a No. 10 or even in a forward position within his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation.
