Trent Alexander-Arnold was the big omission from England’s huge 35-man squad as Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo were called up for the first time under Thomas Tuchel.
Aston Villa’s out-of-form striker Ollie Watkins also misses out despite Tuchel naming 10 forwards in an extraordinary squad selection.
Leeds’ Dominic Calvert–Lewin and Tottenham’s Dominic Solanke are the two out-and-out strikers called up, alongside captain Harry Kane.
Everton midfielder James Garner has earned his first inclusion in a senior international squad, while there is also a shock recall for AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori, who last played for England in 2023.
Alex Scott and Nick Pope were named in the November England squad. They both miss out here, with Pope now having lost his place at club and international level to Aaron Ramsdale.
Brighton’s back-up goalkeeper Jason Steele, who is uncapped and has not played in the Premier League since August 2024, is named in the squad, along with Man City deputy James Trafford.
Trevoh Chalobah and Reece James were in the November squad but are now out injured.
Explaining his extraordinary squad selection, Tuchel said: “We decided to divide it into two camps, almost. We have a camp where we bring players in who we haven’t seen, who haven’t played so much to open up the competition for plane tickets to the US.
“From Friday/Saturday, a group will come into camp who get a rest before. We will go with a new group of players into the match against Japan.”
‘Never seen a camp like it’ – will Tuchel experiment work?
Sky Sports News football correspondent Rob Dorsett:
“The 35 players’ selection is fascinating. Not been done before, has it? It’s a new approach and the one thing we’ve seen from Tuchel is that he’s not afraid to rip up the copybook and try things.
“It’s innovative. It’s interesting to see if the dynamic works. If he’s that clearly delineated in terms of these are our new guys, let’s see how they get on and this is our more established players that we will give more rest to.
“That’s going to lead to an interesting dynamic when it comes to picking the squad and seeing who is available and who is still in the camp by the time we get to that first game a week from tomorrow.
“I’m hugely surprised there’s no Trent Alexander-Arnold.
“You have to say, he will be very fearful for his chances of making the World Cup squad now.”
Full England squad list
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson, Jordan Pickford, James Trafford, Aaron Ramsdale, Jason Steele
Defenders: Dan Burn, Marc Guehi, Lewis Hall, Ezri Konsa, Tino Livramento, Harry Maguire, Nico O’Reilly, Jarell Quansah, Djed Spence, John Stones, Fikayo Tomori
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, James Garner, Jordan Henderson, Kobbie Mainoo, Declan Rice, Morgan Rogers, Adam Wharton
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Eberechi Eze, Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Dominic Solanke
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: skynews.com
