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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Barry Glendenning

England’s World Cup squad, leaks and comical takes from the hard-to-please

Thomas Tuchel with England fans
Nope, that isn’t Thomas Tuchel’s England squad. Photograph: Eddie Keogh/The FA/Getty Images

DRIP, DRIP, DRIP

In a ceremony carrying all the suspense of the official ribbon-cutting of a supermarket that has been open to shoppers for three months, journalists dutifully convened at Wembley on Friday to confirm that the England Geopolitics World Cup squad leaked into the public domain on Thursday was definitely the same as the one that was actually picked. Having been “exclusively” revealed by various hacks, Mr 15%s, Harry Maguire and assorted members of his family, the most contentious decisions appear to have been those made by Thomas Tuchel to leave Maguire, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden at home. “I’ve been left shocked and gutted by the decision,” parped the Manchester United defender, who had been told he was no higher than fifth in the centre-back pecking order. “Absolute [sic] disgusted,” clucked his mum on a Social Media Disgrace, before one of his brothers also joined the pile-on.

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