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Thomas Tuchel says he is \u201cvery confident\u201d he has picked the right squad for England at the FIFA World Cup after leaving out Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Trent Alexander-Arnold. <\/strong><\/p>\n The trio are some of the biggest superstars in football and have 87 caps between them, but they will not be among the 26 players on the plane to North America this summer.<\/p>\n It\u2019s one of the biggest calls by a national team manager in recent memory, although the decision to leave them at home is an understandable one. Palmer, Foden and Alexander-Arnold have all struggled with some combination of injury, a lack of gametime or poor form this season.<\/p>\n They were not the only high-profile omissions, as Harry Maguire, Morgan Gibbs-White, Luke Shaw and Adam Wharton all missed out on inclusion. That led to a lot of \u201cpainful conversations\u201d for Tuchel, but the German coach admitted he likes making these decisions as provides \u201cclarity\u201d and a \u201ccertain edge\u201d to the team.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very confident in the group we chose,\u201d the England boss said at Friday\u2019s squad announcement. \u201cVery difficult decisions. Painful conversations. Difficult to explain to the players. But what we try to achieve we achieve as a team.<\/p>\n \u201cIf everyone is selected, it\u2019s a given we have to leave some extraordinary players, personalities at home.<\/p>\n \u201cI like these decisions \u2013 even if they took us weeks, months \u2013 they bring clarity, a certain edge that is necessary.<\/p>\n \u201cFor some of them it\u2019s just the amount of players in a certain position. We want to give (the players) a clear role.\u201d<\/p>\n Read \u2013 The biggest omission\u2019s from Tuchel\u2019s England squad<\/strong><\/p>\n Jude Bellingham will vye with Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze for the no.10 role that Palmer and Foden hoped to be assuming at the World Cup, although Eze will more likely be competing for minutes on the left or right of the attack.<\/p>\n On Bellingham and Rogers, Tuchel said: \u201cThey are two of the names of potential starters on the same position. They can also play together. If they compete for one position, it is possible as accomplices, you don\u2019t have to be enemies. They are friends anyway.<\/p>\n \u201cBukayo (Saka) and Noni (Madueke) fight for the same place in the club. You can fight and push your friend to the best possible performance.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve no doubt they will be decisive for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Read \u2013\u00a0Maguire \u2018shocked and gutted\u2019 after World Cup snub<\/strong><\/p>\n Although Alexander-Arnold\u2019s absence was not a shock, it was surprising that Djed Spence took his place in the squad. The Tottenham full-back, who can play on the left and the right, has made just one start since Roberto De Zerbi took over as manager last month, but Tuchel says he proved himself in the March international break when he started against Uruguay.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was excellent in every match he played for us. He suffers from a third change of coach at his club, since then he doesn\u2019t get a lot of minutes. He suffers from the situation, is part of the situation at Tottenham.<\/p>\n \u201cHe loves defending, he\u2019s the fastest player in our squad and he loves defending one-on-ones. That\u2019s what makes him a special full-back for us. He can play both sides.<\/p>\n \u201cBefore the March camp we said \u2018you don\u2019t get the minutes (with Spurs)\u2019 if you come here you have to prove yourself again. And Djed and Tino were excellent against Uruguay. That was the decision I could really trust him.\u201d<\/p>\n Read \u2013 Power Rankings: Roma and Aston Villa gatecrash top 10<\/strong><\/p>\n On This Day \u2013 Man United beat Chelsea in first all-English Champions League final<\/strong><\/p>\n Facebook\u00a0|\u00a0Instagram\u00a0| Twitter<\/a> | YouTube | TikTok<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\nTuchel explains Palmer, Foden and Alexander-Arnold decision<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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