Tuchel defends leaving out England stars from squad

Thomas Tuchel raised eyebrows by not recalling some of England's biggest individual stars, instead keeping faith with the squad that impressed against Serbia last month (PA)

- MIGUEL DELANEY

Thomas Tuchel says he would lose “credibility” as a coach if he did not drop big names, especially after telling his players that the last camp was the best he’d had.

The England manager caused surprise by only making one squad change from the last international break, with Bukayo Saka in for the injured Noni Madueke, and leaving out a number of stars and on-form players: Jude Bellingham, Jack Grealish, Phil Foden and Adam Wharton. There was most surprise that Bellingham was not immediately recalled, given that he is back in the Real Madrid team after injury.

Although much of Tuchel's explanation has been taken as an indirect coded warning to the midfielder and others about behaviour standards in the squad, the German denied this, and insisted it was mostly being fair with those that had given him his best display so far. England hammered Serbia 5-0 in Belgrade in September, to virtually make certain of World Cup qualification. Should England confirm that, Tuchel did say that the announcement of later kickoff times in North America will aid his team.

On his selections, Tuchel said those left out can give what he wants but he “didn’t want to leave anyone out who was in the last camp”.

“What would be my explanation to leave them out and also be authentic in my words? After the Serbia match I went into the dressing room and I told them what I told you. [Imagine] then I have a phone call and leave four players out and say ‘Now I take A, B, C and D and not you’ - what would you think as a player? ‘Didn’t you tell me that was exactly how you wanted it, and now I’m out?’ Would you not think that? I think, as a player, you would.