Thomas Tuchel has sent a warning to the likes of Cole Palmer and Co: the England train is leaving without you.
Chelsea star Palmer pulled out of the England squad for the Nations League campaign, while Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo, Declan Rice and Tino Livramento also withdrew. They now face a fight to get back into Tuchel’s plans because the England boss says the “train is rolling” and is moving on without them.
Tuchel made it very clear that he will keep faith with the players who were part of this four-game camp and will reward their loyalty and commitment. That will come as a stark warning for Palmer in particular as Tuchel has already said the Chelsea star misses “way too many opportunities for England.”
England thriving without absent stars
England have also found a way to win and play with style without Palmer, Rashford and Phil Foden as they are as good as qualified for the knock-out stages of the Nations League next March.
When asked if they face a battle to get back in, Tuchel said: “It’s always like this. This is how it has to be. Everyone should be eager to come, desperate to come because the train is rolling and the train is rolling and full credit to the players who bought into that.
“It can only work like this. We can only put our full energy into the camp and the players who are in camp makes the camp special. This will never change.”
Tuchel unsure on Foden and Palmer
Tuchel also admitted that he “does not know” whether Foden and Palmer would work in England’s high octane style of football which saw them beat Czech Republic twice and also smash seven past Croatia. He added: “I don’t know, is the honest answer. They are not here. This team took another step and it’s always about the guys who are here.”
That message was clear enough and Tuchel is certain to keep that in mind ahead of naming his squad for next month’s final two Nations League games with Croatia and Spain.
If England beat Croatia then it will set up a final game decider in Spain on November 15 as to who finishes top of the group to get home advantage.
What next for England
The Nations League quarter-final draw is on November 20 in Nyon while the Euro 2028 qualifying draw is in Belfast on December 6.
Palmer was left out of Tuchel's squad for the World Cup in the summer and hasn't played for his country since a friendly against Japan in March. He has earned 14 caps so far, scoring twice, including in England's Euros final defeat by Spain in 2024.
Rashford was a key part of Tuchel's plans at the World Cup and boasts 19 goals in 78 caps, but has seen Anthony Gordon establish himself as the first-choice on the left wing over the past few weeks.
His United team-mate Mainoo was an unused member of England's squad at the World Cup. The 21-year-old will have taken note of Alex Scott's impressive performances after the Bournemouth midfielder was handed a debut by Tuchel.
Meanwhile, Tuchel says England have “unlocked” a new way of playing with extra style, flair and all-out attack. They beat the Czech Republic twice and smashed seven past Croatia.
England lost to Spain but have finished the camp with Tuchel believing they are in a better place now in their first round of games since the World Cup.
That ended in disappointment after the semi-final defeat to Argentina and question marks about England’s DNA and becoming too defensive. But Tuchel says many of his questions have been answered by the players and their attacking approach.
He said: “It was on a very high level. Football on a high level, football that suits us, attacking football, a lot of high ball wins and we took some calculated risks in the ‘man-on-man’ approach in the opponents’ half.
“We did it in all four games and we had four good performances, if unfortunately not four wins. We didn’t beat Spain but it was always about the reaction and that was on a high level. It’s shown me how we react in the next camps after a tournament. I have never done a big tournament or a big camp after a tournament.
“It was new for me and brilliant to see how everyone bought into the idea of the next steps and the details needed to adjust to maybe unlock the next level. I love this group of players because the attitude and commitment is of the highest level.”
Tuchel believes the new style comes from “slight adjustments” in training and the chance to build on their “strong foundations” but he insists they did not want to completely reinvent themselves.
Instead, England have clearly used Jude Bellingham further forward alongside Harry Kane, the two wingers almost make it a front four and the two midfielders at the base of the team are very important.
Scott - injured for the second Czech Republic game - has made a big impression as Tuchel called him “really excellent” with the same praise going to Lewis Hall who made England more balanced from left-back.
That midfield duo could be key with the right partnership. One to hold, one to drive forward and Tuchel said Scott was “super strong” and on a “completely new level.” His partnership with Elliot Anderson in Croatia was a benchmark for the future.
