Thomas Tuchel delivered major surprises in his England squad announcement for October's Wales friendly and Latvia World Cup qualifier. The German manager excluded several high-profile stars despite their impressive recent club form.
Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish were all omitted from the squad, defying widespread expectations. Bukayo Saka returns after missing September's internationals through injury, representing a calculated gamble on his fitness.
Player of the year snubbed
Bellingham's exclusion proves particularly striking given his recent individual recognition. According to the Evening Standard, the Real Madrid midfielder was voted England men's player of the year for the 2024/25 season, making his squad omission all the more surprising.
Grealish's absence continues his international exile despite his brilliant revival at Everton on loan. The winger has rediscovered his best form in blue, strutting with confidence and delivering consistent performances that many expected would secure his England recall.
World Cup qualification chance
England could seal World Cup qualification with victory over Latvia, reports The i, if Serbia drop points against Albania or Andorra. The Three Lions maintain a perfect qualifying record with five wins, 13 goals scored and zero conceded.
Saka's inclusion represents Tuchel's willingness to take risks on recovering players. The Arsenal winger missed England's previous camp but returns to face Wales on October 9th and Latvia on October 14th.
Tuchel's philosophy
The Guardian reveals Tuchel's approach focuses on maintaining the energy and positive atmosphere from England's successful previous camp. The manager appears to prioritise squad continuity and team chemistry over individual brilliance, even when that means excluding star performers.
Both fixtures offer Tuchel opportunities to build momentum in his early tenure as England manager. The Wales friendly provides preparation time before the crucial World Cup qualifier against Latvia.
Sources used: "Daily Mail", "Evening Standard", "The i", "Guardian", "Daily Star" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
