England football manager, Thomas Tuchel, is set to announce his 26-man squad for the upcoming World Cup this Friday. The selection process has been filled with surprises, leaving fans and players alike in a state of shock.
Manchester City's Phil Foden and Chelsea's Cole Palmer are among the notable omissions from the squad. Despite their attacking prowess as midfielders who can also play as forwards, their inconsistent seasons have seemingly cost them a place in the team.
Harry Maguire, Manchester United defender, will also be left out of the squad. The 33-year-old expressed his disappointment on Instagram saying he was "shocked and gutted" at the decision after having had a strong season. Luke Shaw is another Manchester United player set to miss out despite an impressive season. His omission comes as Newcastle’s Dan Burn and Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly are expected to be called up instead.
Unexpected inclusions
On a brighter note for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins - he is set to make it into Tuchel’s final list after helping his side win the Europa League on Wednesday. Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney will also join him following an impressive run of scoring 32 goals in 32 games in Saudi Arabia this season.
Arsenal winger Noni Madueke has reportedly made it into Tuchel’s final cut alongside Premier League-winning teammates Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Eberechi Eze who has been rewarded for his excellent form with a place in the team.
Despite an injury-disrupted campaign, John Stones from Manchester City is likely to secure a spot due to other key defenders like Levi Colwill (Chelsea) and Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan) being ruled out.
Midfielder dynamics
Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, despite being the top-scoring English player in the Premier League this season, is set to miss out. However, Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo is expected to retain his place after earning a recall for previous friendlies.
Brentford's Jordan Henderson, who has been a consistent performer under Tuchel, is also expected to keep his place in the squad. Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton however will likely miss out on selection.
The World Cup promises to be an exciting event with its unique tri-hosting format across the US, Mexico and Canada starting from 11 June. While some fans may be disappointed by their favorite players' omission from England's squad, it will certainly be interesting to see how Tuchel's chosen team performs on football's biggest stage.
