Cole Palmer one of eight England stars Tuchel must axe from World Cup squad | Football | Sport

Thomas Tuchel names his 26-man England squad for this summer’s World Cup on Friday. The German head coach has several tough decisions to make as he selects his group he hopes can end 60 years of hurt and bring the iconic trophy back to English shores.

England face Croatia, Ghana and Panama in their group in the USA but their nightmare path to the final could see them face Brazil, Argentina and Spain to win a first World Cup since 1966. With the nation once again dreaming that football will come home, Express Sport take a look at the players Tuchel SHOULDN’T invite on the plane across the Atlantic…

Jack McEachen – Foden, Gibbs-White, Eze, Calvert-Lewin

Phil Foden, Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze are three victims of the wealth of options Thomas Tuchel has to choose from. Jude Bellingham is surely a shoo-in behind Harry Kane, and Morgan Rogers in exhilarating form for both club and country in the past few months. Plus, you have Cole Palmer, who can produce a flash of magic, as he showed in the Euros final just two years ago.

Unfortunately, there isn’t room for these mercurial number 10s, if you want to include the wide threats of Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon, Marcus Rashford and Jarrod Bowen. And if, as reported elsewhere, Tuchel plans to take three strikers in total, you would pick penalty-specialist Ivan Toney over Dominic Calvert-Lewin, as impressive as the Leeds man has been. Neither are likely to play significant minutes, so why not take the player you trust in a penalty shoot-out.

Amos Murphy – Foden, Palmer, Calvert-Lewin, Solanke

The time for talking is nearly done, with the England squad announcement just around the corner. It’s been a disappointing season for a couple of England’s big hitters, including Phil Foden and Cole Palmer. Neither should be included in the squad for this summer’s tournament, especially if it’s at the expense of Morgan Gibbs-White.

Despite popular opinion, Tuchel would be a fool to leave Trent Alexander-Arnold at home. For all his defensive frailties, the ex-Liverpool ace is one of England’s best passers – a trait that could come in handy towards the end of a tight knockout match, for example. The same can’t be said for Dominic Calvert-Lewin or his namesake Dominic Solanke, with neither having shown enough this season to be on the plane.

Charlie Malam – Palmer, Burn, Eze, Spence

Cole Palmer hasn’t scored in an England shirt since Euro 2024. And the past 18 months at Chelsea, he’s been distinctly average. It’s four non-penalty goals this season. He misses out. Phil Foden has shown signs recently that’d see him make my squad over Cole Palmer.

In defence, Dan Burn seems popular with Thomas Tuchel but he’s not at the level required in my opinion. And Djed Spence, as solid as he is, misses out as well. Trent Alexander-Arnold absolutely has to go. What a weapon his passing can be off the bench against tired defences. Unless Tottenham are drafted into the World Cup in Iran’s place, Eberechi Eze should stay at home too – even though he’s a Premier League champion now.

Archie Griggs – Foden, Palmer, Burn

Phil Foden has been a shoo-in for England at recent tournaments but it’s hard to make a convincing case for his inclusion this time around. Based on club form, Morgan Rogers and Morgan Gibbs-White should be prioritised, while Cole Palmer could also miss out for the same reason.

Dan Burn should also be overlooked because England simply have better options at left-back and centre-half, but it’s a different story for Trent Alexander-Arnold. Under normal circumstances, he’d probably stay at home, but injuries to Ben White and Tino Livramento have opened the door for his return to the squad.