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Tuchel names 26-man squad
Thomas Tuchel named a 26-man England squad for the World Cup, defending his “specialist” selections as he said forming a “brotherhood” can help the team win the tournament this summer.
“Thomas Tuchel has named his 26-man squad for this summer's World Cup”
Tuchel’s list included Ivan Toney, whose involvement under him amounted to “just a seven-minute cameo in June 2025,” while it left out Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Harry Maguire, and also continued Trent Alexander-Arnold’s “exile.”
Sky Sports said Tuchel personally called around 50 players on Thursday and Friday to tell them whether they had made his World Cup squad, and he told a press conference on Friday morning that “Teams win championships - and what we're trying to achieve can only be achieved as a team.”
The Guardian framed the same selection as a shock call-up for Toney and an omission for Maguire, Palmer and Foden, while also noting that Tuchel picked Djed Spence over Trent Alexander-Arnold and that the World Cup is in North America.
Rooney, reacting to Maguire’s exclusion, described the defender as “very unlucky” not to be in the squad, saying the “big call among the defenders was probably between Harry and Dan Burn.”
Rooney and Maguire react
Wayne Rooney said on the Wayne Rooney Podcast that “I think the Maguire one was the big one for me, which was a bit of a shock,” and he speculated that Tuchel might have avoided taking Maguire if he would not play him.
Rooney added that he “trust[s] Tuchel based on everything we’ve seen,” even while disagreeing with some choices, and he said the “big call among the defenders was probably between Harry and Dan Burn.”
Harry Maguire publicly reacted to his World Cup snub by posting on Thursday that “I’ve been left shocked and gutted by the decision,” and he wrote that he was confident he could have played a “major part” for his country.
On the eve of the squad announcement at Wembley, talkSPORT’s account said Tuchel told reporters he was “a bit surprised” by Maguire’s reaction but said he had “a private conversation” with him.
The Bridgwater Mercury reported Tuchel’s explanation that he was “a bit surprised because we had a private conversation, and he had the chance to express his feelings.”
What’s at stake next
Tuchel said England need “a bit of luck” and that they must “Stay healthy” and “Catch momentum,” while he insisted the squad is built around “specialists” for different scenarios such as when “we're leading” or “when we're chasing a result.”
“We need a bit of luck We need our selection right. Stay healthy.”
He also said the No 10 roles now have clarity with Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze, and he argued that “They can play together,” adding that if they compete for one position it is “possible to compete as accomplices, not enemies.”
The Guardian reported that Tuchel’s approach left out some of the country’s biggest talents, and it quoted him saying “It is not necessarily to select the most talented 26 players. Teams win championships.”
Maguire’s omission also carried a direct tournament timeline in The Independent’s account, which said England play Croatia in their World Cup opener in Dallas, Texas on 17 June, before facing Ghana on 23 June and Panama on 27 June.
With Maguire out, The Independent said the “Three Lions” will be without an experienced tournament player come 17 June, and it suggested the decision could spell good news for Dan Burn and potentially Levi Colwill or Jarell Quansah.
