Thomas Tuchel has made ruthless calls with his World Cup selection, finding no space for Phil Foden and Cole Palmer in England’s 26-man squad and leaving a “shocked and gutted” Harry Maguire on the outside.
Foden and Palmer have had underwhelming seasons for Manchester City and Chelsea respectively and will not be included in the 26-man party for the tournament this summer, which Tuchel will name at Wembley on Friday morning.
Kobbie Mainoo will be included but there is no place for the Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton.
Maguire has excelled for United since Michael Carrick took over as the head coach in mid-January and was called up by Tuchel for the March international programme. The 33-year-old started against Uruguay and came on as a late substitute against Japan, when he brought a threat on set pieces.
But Tuchel has decided to prioritise other players in the position. He is expected to select Ezri Konsa, Marc Guéhi and John Stones, despite Stones’s lack of football for City; he has made only four appearances since 2 December. Also in the frame are Trevoh Chalobah, Jarell Quansah and Dan Burn. Levi Colwill, the Chelsea centre-back, has missed out after being absent for most of the season with a knee injury. The Milan defender Fikayo Tomori has also not been selected.
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“I was confident I could have played a major part this summer for my country after the season I’ve had,” Maguire posted on social media. “I’ve been left shocked and gutted by the decision. I’ve loved nothing more than putting that shirt on and representing my country over the years. I wish the players all the best this summer.”
Tuchel’s comments about Maguire after the Uruguay game bear a reprint. “I got exactly what I thought: solid central defender play,” Tuchel said. “Very good on the ball, very calm, strong in the air and [as a] weapon for set pieces. I haven’t changed my mind but I see other players I like to start for us, I see other players ahead with a different profile. I see Ezri Konsa ahead, I see Marc Guéhi ahead. It’s no secret. I see Trevoh Chalobah on the level of mobility slightly ahead of him. Also John Stones, but he had injuries.”
Maguire’s club colleague Luke Shaw, who last played for England in 2024 but has had an impressive, injury-free season, is also expected to miss out.
