England Senior National Team General Discussion Thread

Manchester United have prioritised the sales of England forwards Marcus Rashford, 27, and Jadon Sancho, 25, as well as Brazilian winger Antony, 25, as part of their squad overhaul. (Manchester Evening News), external

Leicester City’s veteran English forward Jamie Vardy, 38, is a target for Spanish side Valencia. (Sun)

Tottenham are hopeful their Europa League triumph will help convince Crystal Palace’s 24-year-old England defender Marc Guehi to join them this summer. (GiveMeSport, external)

AC Milan's dramatic kit launch may have provided a hint into Kyle Walker's future, amid reports that he is set to return to Manchester City at the end of the term. (Daily Mail)

 

It’s a alright squad, no major omissions as far as I can see. The continued selection of Walker and Henderson are a bit frustrating, I get wanting experience in an otherwise very young squad though given Henderson just oversaw one of the all time great Ajax collapses i really question how much one player can really set the mentality.

Ideally I’d say Anderson and Wharton would have more upside to the squad than Henderson and Gallagher in midfield, but at the same time them going to the under 21 euros seems more beneficial than squad players for this group. Hopefully that changes for the next squad.

 

I think that inconsistency is what makes Madueke get a lot of criticsim. He is a great player (My dad who only watches England matches as very impressed by him last autumn) but being so inconsistent means even a lot of Chelsea fans don’t like him.

 

I think Walker might drop out before the World Cup but I am honestly resigned to Henderson going to the USA and becoming the first to play at 4 World Cup for England (As Bobby Charlton never got on the pitch in 1958).

 

It’s that time again where we have to have a sympathy parade for Bowen.

When will people let it go and accept he is lucky to have had the involvement he’s already had, let alone a greater role. Lots of endeavour and a nice story but he isn’t of the quality we need or are looking for long-term, I’m so bored of the discussion around him now.

 

Agree. Bowen just isn't up to international football

 

Tuchel says he called Dominic Solanke to explain why he's not been selected. Says he "deserves" to be in, but already has a "clear picture" of what the #THFC man brings. Toney, Watkins and Kane in instead. Players involved in the Club World Cup will not be allowed to leave early

— Dom Smith (@MrDomSmith) May 23, 2025

He didn’t get on the Pitch through in March so this is spin worthy of a politician.

I do hope all the clubs have agreed to the CWC policy. I could easily see Real Madrid telling their players to just walk out and tell Countries to go to CAS.

 

‘Tuchel says now is "not the moment" to introduce Ben White to the squad because he is due to become a father very soon and his focus needs to be on that.

Adds that he is "100% ready" to come back and the main reason for his omission is family.’


Will he replace Walker next time then?

 

Yeah, one would hope that is the thought process here. The qualifier is Andorra, so very little benefit to gain from including players who could be at a tournament with the U21s.

 

Thomas Tuchel sounds like he’s a big fan of Ben White every time he’s asked about him

— Rory Talks Football (@Rory_Talks_Ball) May 23, 2025

 

So next season we should expect Delap and Anderson as he has name checked them with Quansah, Wharton and Livramento.
Through he doesn’t sound 100% confident Wharton will be fit for the U21 Euros.

 

Surprised Livramento is missing. He has been unbelievable for us recently at left back. The fact he can play right back or left back and has that versatility must count for something.

Gordon has only been our third best English winger this year with Barnes and in particular Murphy having miles better seasons yet he is the one picked, maybe due to being more embeded in the squad already.

Apart from that, dont really like the Henderson or Toney selections too much

 

Tuchel rounds off his news conference explaining his decision to select Jordan Henderson once again, saying the former Liverpool midfielder "takes care of all of the standards" in training.

Does a player need to do that?

 

France have some amazing players up front and in defence but their midfield looks pretty weak. I can say for the first time we have a far stronger midfield than them

 

I can't see how that's relevant when there's more pressing questions to be asked such as what has Bowen done wrong not to be in the squad.

 

The media didn’t ask about Bowen or Trafford as far as I can tell. Or Walker who has not started a match since before he got injured in early April.

 

Some more quotes

Show Spoiler Hide Spoiler

More from England boss Thomas Tuchel on calling up players and how he felt about it as a club manager: "The more experience I got the more calm I was on these periods. The more international my teams were the more I understood what it means for the players, especially players from South America who are always eager to play for their country.

"I tell you very openly that our players are very proud to come to camp even if it is extra travel and extra games in the schedule. This is never an easy window for players involved in European competitions and domestic titles.

"Overall everyone was excited and when I speak to players they are desperate to come. This is our second camp together so we feel the excitement."


England boss Thomas Tuchel on Club World Cup and if it is a tournament too far? "It is a massive tournament, a new one, a lot of travelling and it is very long. That is the calendar nowadays I think once the players are there they will love and embrace the challenge to play against teams they have maybe never played before.

"The Club World Cup that I played in before was very different and maybe this will change perception. Let's see.

"It is not worth complaining, it is the schedule and we have to find the best solutions within the schedule for the players. Because I was in club football we will take care of the minutes of the players if we can. Spending time together was very important for us."


England boss Thomas Tuchel on Trent Alexander-Arnold: "Hopefully we get the best out of him. There can be no doubt about his talent. He is a pretty special player and kind of a unique player. I would say he is a right full-back, that is his position. The way he plays that position is maybe very unorthodox because he has this special talent and special vibe around his game. It is maybe also on us to adapt to him as it is on him to adapt to us.

"I am very happy he is ready to be picked and he was very happy to come and happy to get to know me and be around the players.

"He won another major trophy and he was hugely involved in this unbelievable campaign for Liverpool. He is a winner and we are very positive. I am happy he is back."


England boss Thomas Tuchel on players like Adam Wharton missing out: "We had Adam Wharton train with us in the last camp. He was with the Under 21s but trained with us and was very, very good.

"At the moment there is a little injury problem - a concussion protocol going on from the FA Cup final.

"Together with Tino Livramento, Jarell Quansah, Elliott Anderson and Liam Delap - all names who could play a role for us but a major tournament comes up for the Under-21s and the intention is they play a big part in this tournament.

"I like it a lot that they have chances to be leaders in this group, to be players we hopefully will rely on. We will monitor them closely but we decided that with these players they take the responsibility for the Under-21s."

Doesn’t seem like anyone asked him about Foden - wouid have thought they would want a quote where he either he either says he has left out because he asked or was going to drop him anyway. (Which is what I think might have happened).

 

It's unbelievable. There's an obvious bias they are displaying. Social media is awash with it yet they choose to conceal the real issue. Deflection tactics. Mason Mount is on the standby list too.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk .masonmountstandbylistforgullibles=en-GB&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

 

That would be bias after one good match! Where did he say that.

Some of the prominent England fan accounts really don’t like Madueke at all.

Toney’s call up might well increase the chances Walker goes to Saudi as well knowing Tuchel will still give him a call up.

 

The full Henderson quotes. Plus he also says Burn is in partly because he is left footed

Show Spoiler Hide Spoiler

England boss Thomas Tuchel on Jordan Henderson being picked: "If we have a training exercise with different groups and you have a group with Jordan you can turn your back you don't need to watch. He will take care of all the standards in the group. It may be a possession game, a passing exercise, maybe the warm up but you don't need to take care of this group because Jordan takes care of it. He sets the standards. He is a natural leader and the others follow. That is why he is with us. He is doing this in an impressive way and still playing at a decent level. That is why there was not a thought to drop him."

On if he gets frustrated at people questioning Henderson being picked: "I can understand it but once you meet Jordan and speak to him it is such an obvious choice. Maybe your perception seems far away from mine but I can understand the question. It is not Adam Wharton versus Jordan Henderson. What Jordan brings to the group an under-21 player cannot bring. It is just impossible from personality and experience.

"Jordan is also more than happy to accept the challenge and he wants no gifts and presents."


England boss Thomas Tuchel on Harry Maguire not being selected: "He is always in my thoughts because he covers the position as a central defender but also as a number nine, as you know. He is always a big threat from set pieces and he is a big personality and he steps up in difficult times as you can see in his club.

"At the moment Ezri Konsa keeps his place, Dan Burn has a left foot and keeps his place. We say at the moment Trevoh Chalobah a little bit ahead of Harry.

"I have a very clear picture of Harry and what he represents and what he can bring to a squad. I am not so clear how Trevoh will be in this enviroment and performance wise at the moment he is a ltitle bit ahead. He is involved in fighting for Champions League football."

I’m not sure a lot of fans want someone selected just because they speak well.

 

Tuchel seems almost hypnotic. Second time a lot of Journalists have complained about various aspects of the squad and then changed their mind because they were impressed by the press conference.

 

Mainoo has had quite the drop as well going from starting the final to not even being mentioned today in the press conference.

With even Tuchel saying Henderson is only playing decently it’s hard to see how he will ever be dropped. Sounds like he happy to have players who are they for other reasons.

Going to be interesting seeing the whole squad at the Spanish Grand Prix next week. We haven’t seen England players all together in a day out in public for years. .

 

Chelsea boss Maresca on England squad

Show Spoiler Hide Spoiler

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca spoke on the England squad announcement and their upcoming fixtures in his press conference earlier today.

"England squad? I didn't speak with one of them, and I've said many times before that we are happy with our players being in their national teams because they represent their country and club also.

"From the 10th [when the international break ends] to the 15th [when Chelsea kick off at the Club World Cup] there is five days. The problem is that we have a game on Sunday and Wednesday - and it is a European final.

"I am not thinking about next season. I am thinking about the next two games. I think for sure there can be players, because the amount of games that they have, can be injured or tired. Then, we will see how we need to behave."

 

If Henderson "takes care of all the standards on training "

What does that say about
1) The rest of the players
2) The rest of the coaches

What an odd reason to include someone.
Bloody teachers pet