The names axed made headlines as much as those included, and Thomas Tuchel was not done with cutting the fallen down to size by his selection alone.
In a Wembley referees’ room an hour after naming his World Cup squad, the England boss explained in brutally candid terms why the likes of Harry Maguire, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer have been shown a World Cup red card. All three were involved in the March internationals.
First up, Maguire, given his exclusion sounded the starter’s gun for a series of leaks that revealed the 26-man group on Thursday night. The Manchester United defender fired back, saying he was left ‘shocked and gutted’ by the decision, while his mother Zoe labelled it ‘disgraceful’.
Tuchel, it seems, was not impressed by Maguire’s public reaction.
‘I was surprised and I think it was not necessary,’ said the head coach. ‘I respected his personality and quality a lot, he had an outstanding season. But still, I was a bit surprised because we had a private conversation when he could express his feelings and that was fair enough.
‘I felt his disappointment. I felt that he was upset. I can see all the arguments to have him in camp. But it’s just a decision, not a personal decision, just a decision for someone else. It (his response) was not necessary, let’s put it like this.’
Thomas Tuchel admitted his disappointment at Harry Maguire’s ‘unnecessary’ statement after being left out of England’s World Cup squad
Maguire’s mother Zoe (right) branded the decision ‘disgraceful’ in a social media post
Maguire probably merited inclusion, and it is a shame that his future prospects under Tuchel – set to stay on for Euro 2028 – would appear bleak. He is not alone in that regard.
Next up, Palmer, who scored England’s goal during the 2-1 defeat by Spain in the final of Euro 2024. This, says Tuchel, was one of his most difficult phone calls, and the Chelsea playmaker did not ‘take it in his stride’.
‘I think he suffers from, first of all, a lack of individual form with his club,’ said Tuchel. ‘He was not as decisive or as influential as he was in the last seasons. Second of all, he was not very influential with us. His record with us was just not outstanding, not good enough to make him, “No matter what, he is coming”. That is just the reality of it.
‘He pulled out several times, injured. When he was in camp, he did not have the impact that we all wanted to push him for. So, again, I can find a lot of arguments to have him in the squad, and I respect his quality and his very unique personality. He was never a problem in camp, and I think his personality helps him, even in big moments, to not show nerves and to be decisive. But to have these moments you need also to be in shape, you need to be influential within this group and he has just failed to prove it, on a consistent level.
‘I refuse to bring players for the name and I refuse to then play them out of position just to give them something. I prefer to have the tough decision beforehand, digest it and then push everyone else.’
That last comment leads into Foden, a supreme talent who has never really performed for Tuchel or any of his predecessors. He has been included with England largely on the basis of his excellent form with Manchester City. Now that no longer exists, there was little reason to reserve a seat on the plane.
‘With Phil, it’s a little bit different (to Palmer) because Phil was excellent in camp for us,’ said Tuchel. ‘He was not only excellent in training, but also off training. He was open, he was in good spirits.
‘And it hurt me a lot, actually, to call him and to tell him this decision. I could see in his reaction how much it affects him, how much it would have meant for him to come. But I think, like with Cole and especially with Phil, he lost momentum in a crucial moment of the season. Basically, the last half of the season. We could see glimpses here and there, but not a lot of evidence. I was not even sure in the end what position he is. Is it a 10? Is it a false nine? Is it maybe more a Bernardo Silva role in the future, as a number eight?
Tuchel admitted Cole Palmer was one of his most difficult phone calls, and the Chelsea playmaker did not ‘take it in his stride’
The England boss admitted being unsure on Phil Foden’s position and said the Man City star had lost momentum in a crucial part of the season
‘It is maybe not on the wing anymore, so it does not make sense for me to just bring players and then play them out of position to have them in camp. It will just make them uncomfortable, make them unhappy.’
It felt telling when Tuchel broadened the conversation into the philosophy behind his squad.
‘It’s not necessarily the best and most talented player (who is picked),’ he said. ‘It’s the best team. We chose a very balanced squad. I can guarantee we have 26 players who are committed to team spirit and being unselfish. We have to pick the squad we are convinced by and who we love. It comes down to who do we really trust? Who delivered? Who helped with the culture? Who are the leaders? It’s about the energy, the connection and the trust.’
The one player we did not think he trusted was Ivan Toney. The Al-Ahli striker has played just three minutes under Tuchel – a defeat by Senegal last June – and all of the inclusions, his was the biggest shock.
Before he could be recalled, however, Tuchel needed to address with him his effort – or lack of it – last summer.
‘I was not happy with the June camp,’ began the German. ‘He knows that, and we had to clear the air (recently). That was the first step to even start thinking about calling him up again, because I was not happy. It was not a matter of his character. The level of training and the level of commitment was not where we wanted.
‘Then, we started talking more deeply about the team and different scenarios and what would be the most offensive lineup if we are going 1-0 down with 15 minutes to play and we need a goal, when we are pushing, balls are flying into the box – and his name was coming up constantly. Ivan is, in this case, part of a special operations team.
‘He has a presence. Harry (Kane) loves to play with him, because he thinks that he takes the attention off him. He is even more of an old-school No.9 than Harry himself. So would he be a player you would like the ball to fall to if there is a ricochet in the box? Yes. Absolutely. And we try to build a strong set-piece squad. He can have his role there, defensively and offensively. He is also a world-class penalty taker. He suddenly ticks a lot of boxes.
‘It was necessary that we talked with him again and clarified if he’s happy to come. After having another conversation and having good feedback from his club coach – very good feedback – and having good feedback from the Euros in Germany, we decided to reopen the door and invite him in.’
Toney walked straight through that door, but for others it was closed in their face. Whether Tuchel’s ruthless clarity is the key to England’s success will only become known in North America.
