Thomas Tuchel, the former Bayern Munich and Chelsea head coach, is set to take charge of the Three Lions next month. Ahead of this significant event, he has reached out to Arsenal defender Ben White as part of his first England squad selection process.
Tuchel will be naming his first England squad ahead of World Cup qualification fixtures next month. The German coach will be at the helm for home matches against Albania and Latvia, marking the beginning of England's World Cup qualifying campaign.
The anticipation surrounding Tuchel's first selection is high. He has reportedly been reaching out to a number of stars as he gathers an overview of the nation's best players. This includes attending games, talking to players directly and making video calls.
Reaching out to Ben White
According to reports from The Telegraph, contact has been made with Arsenal star Ben White who hasn't played for England since March 2022. After leaving Qatar World Cup camp later that year, White requested not to be considered by then-coach Gareth Southgate.
Tuchel’s outreach signifies his commitment towards a fresh start for the team after taking over earlier this year. Following England’s World Cup qualification draw announcement, he confirmed plans on reaching out to those who had previously distanced themselves from national duty.
White recently returned from injury and doesn’t have much time left before Tuchel finalizes his squad list. The 27-year-old defender came off the bench against West Ham after being sidelined since November due to knee surgery.
Other players in consideration
In addition to White, it appears that James Maddison from Tottenham Hotspurs is also on Tuchel’s radar. Maddison missed out on Euro 2024 selection last summer but could potentially make a comeback under Tuchel’s leadership.
As Thomas Tuchel prepares to take charge of the Three Lions, his proactive approach in reaching out to players like Ben White and James Maddison signals a fresh start for England's national team. With World Cup qualification fixtures on the horizon, it will be interesting to see how these developments shape up England's squad and their performance in the upcoming matches.
