England manager Thomas Tuchel has defended his controversial World Cup squad selection, insisting that team balance and unity are more important than assembling the most talented individual players.
Speaking at a press conference at Wembley on Friday, the former Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain manager said he had “no fear” over leaving several high-profile stars out of England’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Among the notable omissions were Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Morgan Gibbs-White and Adam Wharton.
Tuchel explained that his focus was on building a cohesive squad capable of winning the tournament rather than simply selecting the biggest names.
“From day one, we were very clear that we are trying to build the best possible team, which is not necessarily the 26 most talented players,” he said.
“Teams win championships, it’s as simple as that.”
The 52-year-old admitted the decisions were difficult, revealing that discussions over the final squad selection lasted for weeks and, in some cases, months.
“It was a given that from these 55 players in the provisional squad, we would have to leave some extraordinary talents and personalities at home,” Tuchel added.
England head into the tournament as one of the favourites, 60 years after winning their only major international trophy.
Tuchel, who replaced Gareth Southgate, said his ambition is clear, to win the World Cup.
“The goal is to try to win it and not be shy about it,” he said. “At the same time, we must respect the competition, the opponents and the challenges that come with the tournament.”
One of the biggest surprises in the squad was the inclusion of Ivan Toney, who currently plays for Al-Ahli Saudi FC in the Saudi Pro League.
Toney has played limited minutes for England since Euro 2024, but Tuchel said the striker’s unique qualities made him an important addition to the squad.
The former Brentford FC forward has scored 32 league goals this season and, according to Tuchel, offers England a different attacking option.
“He has very special skills that could help us, especially when we are chasing a goal,” the England manager explained.
“He can be a strong presence in the penalty box, he is excellent in the air, very physical and a natural finisher.”
England will begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Dallas on June 17 before facing Ghana and Panama in their remaining group-stage matches.
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