Open season for anyone who wants a part of England squad, says manager Tuchel as he welcomes competition for spots.
Tuchel says open season for ‘top characters’ to earn spot in England’s World Cup squad.
The door will always be open for players with exceptional quality and character to return, according to Thomas Tuchel, who also states that the “competition is on” to gain a spot in England’s World Cup squad.
The head coach’s selection decisions for this camp were drastic; he prioritised the team over the individual and raised the prospect of great players missing the World Cup next summer by passing up Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden, even though both attackers were healthy. In their 3-0 friendly victory over Wales on Thursday, England performed admirably without Bellingham, Foden, and the injured Cole Palmer, supporting Tuchel’s stated goal of building the greatest squad rather than acquiring the best players.
The German’s justification is straightforward: he enjoyed the spirit at camp last month and hasn’t found the need to make drastic adjustments. However, Tuchel is not discounting the chance that individuals who were left out this time will return for qualifiers against Serbia and Albania the following month.
“At the moment, it is only about the players who are in camp,” he said. “The competition is on. They deserve it also. And I am still absolutely convinced the guys who were in Serbia and against Andorra last camp deserve to be in this camp. This is where the focus has to be. They deserve the respect and they put out another great performance.
“The door is always open for anyone to jump in. [Against Wales] we had four changes from the match in Serbia. We were forced to do four changes but it was seamless and everyone who started played with the same energy. We only had one and a half days to prepare so I am happy with the camp. Happy that we can prove another point. Next camp is the next nomination.”
It was put to Tuchel that his logic in rewarding those who are performing for him now will make it hard for outcasts to earn recalls. “Let’s play a second game and then we decide,” he replied. “The nomination comes and then there is always an open door for top quality, top characters. We are in October now so we go step by step.”
Tuchel was asked whether he could imagine putting Bellingham, Foden and Palmer on the bench at the World Cup. “You think too much,” he said. “You imagine too much. I am sorry but I don’t follow that mindset. With all of this I would say: ‘Let’s cross the river when we are at the river.’ It does not help anyone if we think in bubbles about what can happen and about what cannot happen.”