Here’s a list of players that Thomas Tuchel didn’t include in England’s World Cup squad.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has had to make some really tough choices over the past couple of days, leaving out some big names from his World Cup squad, including the in-form Morgan Gibbs-White.
Tuchel will announce his 26-man squad for this summer’s World Cup at Wembley Stadium on Friday morning. But thanks to some leaks, we already have a good idea of who might be included.
Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo looks set to join the squad, along with Eberechi Eze, Jarell Quansah, John Stones, Tino Livramento, Ivan Toney, Jordan Henderson, Dan Burn, and Noni Madueke.
Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins is also expected to make the team, according to The Mirror, with teammates Morgan Rodgers and Ezri Konsa likely to be chosen after strong seasons under Unai Emery.
However, there are some big names missing. Phil Foden and Cole Palmer have been left out after struggling with form this season. Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, one of the Premier League’s brightest stars lately, has also been snubbed, according to The Telegraph.
This has caused a lot of chatter online, with many people upset about leaving out such a high-scoring player who’s netted 17 goals this season.
Another surprising omission is Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, who has publicly shared his disappointment. Speaking to talkSPORT, he said, “I thought I could play a big part for my country this summer after the season I’ve had. Being left out has left me shocked and gutted. I wish the other players all the best.”
Other expected absences include Jarrod Bowen, Lewis Hall, Luke Shaw, Levi Colwill, Adam Wharton, Fikayo Tomori, Djed Spence, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Phil Foden has had a tough season. The 25-year-old scored 10 goals in 49 appearances for Manchester City, but his last goal was back in December. Because of this, he’s dropped in Pep Guardiola’s plans, though Guardiola believes Foden will “explode” once he finds his love for the game again.
Foden himself said recently, “I had a strong first half of the season but then dropped off. It’s hard to break into the team with so many great, quality players around.”
Despite limited starts, Foden was included in England’s friendlies in April against Uruguay and Japan but struggled and was taken off before the hour mark in both games.
Tuchel admitted Foden wasn’t guaranteed a spot. “Phil tried everything,” Tuchel said. “He was excellent in training but found it hard to show that on the pitch. He hadn’t had many minutes with City recently but came to camp smiling and worked hard. I thought he might surprise us, but he struggled to make a full impact.”
Foden, who has 49 caps, showed signs of a return to form recently, assisting two goals in City’s 3-0 win over Crystal Palace, which impressed Guardiola. But on Thursday evening, it became clear he won’t be part of England’s World Cup squad.
What do you think about Tuchel’s choices? Share your thoughts in the comments!