England Nations League squad announced as Thomas Tuchel gives a ‘fantastic’ player his first call-up and leaves out two big stars
Thomas Tuchel has announced his squad for England’s upcoming Nations League matches, giving two star players their first-ever call-up.
Before the final games against Croatia and Spain during the November international break, Tuchel revealed the England squad. Many fans hoped for some fresh choices from the Three Lions boss, and it looks like he’s listened—dropping two big names while giving exciting young players their first chance with the senior team.
As expected, big names like Jordan Pickford, Declan Rice, and Ballon d’Or winner Harry Kane are all included. But a surprise call-up is Fulham’s young star Josh King.
At just 19, King was part of England’s World Cup preparation camp this summer and was close to making the senior squad, according to Tuchel. Now he’s getting his chance after scoring two goals and providing one assist in nine Premier League games this season.
Fulham’s manager Arbeloa had high praise for King in August, saying, “What a player you have here. Amazing. Unbelievable.”
Tuchel spoke warmly of King in his press conference: “Josh is a fantastic character. He made a big impression in America and is off to a great start this season. He gives us more flexibility. We’ve called up 22 outfield players, and he’s the extra forward if you like. He’s young, exciting, and versatile — he can play on the wings, as a No. 10, or a No. 9. He even helped us train as a full-back in pre-season, but we won’t do that again! His attitude, smile, and positivity stand out. He’s tough to defend against, and we hope he brings energy to the squad.”
Jobe Bellingham, Jude Bellingham’s younger brother, has also earned his first call-up after impressing for Borussia Dortmund this season. He comes in for Kobbie Mainno, who was left out due to limited game time and Manchester United’s recent form.
Meanwhile, both Cole Palmer and Phil Foden were surprisingly left out again.
Here’s the full squad:
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Jason Steele, James Trafford
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Djed Spence, Ben White, Ezri Konsa, Jarell Quansah, Jarrad Branthwaite, Marc Guehi, Lewis Hall
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Myles Lewis-Skelly, James Garner, Declan Rice, Josh King, Jobe Bellingham, Morgan Gibbs-White
Attackers: Rio Ngumoha, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Harry Kane, Eberechi Eze, Anthony Gordon, Morgan Rogers
Of the surprises, Palmer’s omission stands out the most since he’s improved a lot this season with three goals and three assists in nine appearances. Chelsea confirmed he’s fit and ready, so many expected him to be included. This means Palmer will finish 2026 with only two England appearances, both from March.
In comparison, Chelsea’s Jordan Henderson and 18-year-old Rio Ngumoha, who is picked, both have three appearances this year.
Tuchel explained: “We have enough No. 10s, and we want to stick with the players who were in the camp because it went really well. Everyone made a big impact. It’s not personal. We know Cole wants to play for England, but competition is tough. The players in camp built something special, and that counts. Cole has missed chances to impress, but the door is always open.”
Fans can look forward to some exciting matches as England prepares under Tuchel’s thoughtful selections.