Evening Standard
·15. November 2025
Thomas Tuchel confirms England squad withdrawal ahead of Albania trip

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Yahoo sportsEvening Standard
·15. November 2025

Ezri Konsa played 90 minutes against Serbia but has been sent back to Aston Villa
Ezri Konsa has not travelled for England’s final World Cup qualifier in Albania due to a calf injury, head coach Thomas Tuchel has confirmed.
Konsa played the full 90 minutes in Thursday’s 2-0 win over Serbia at Wembley but felt “tightness” in his calf after the match, so he has remained in London rather than joining the squad on their flight to Tirana.
The centre-back will now return to Aston Villa, days after Marc Guehi dropped out of the squad after failing to recover from the bruised ankle which has ruled him out of Crystal Palace’s last game.
“I will not tell you who starts,” Tuchel said of team selection in Tirana. “I also don’t know fully who starts. We haven’t decided yet, and we will have some discussions later and take decisions [on Sunday] morning.

Ezri Konsa played 90 minutes on Thursday
Getty Images
“I still have to talk to some players. Everyone was in training except for Ezri Konsa, who felt a tightness in the calf and stayed in London for further assessment.
“Everyone else will be in the squad because everyone else trained today in the morning. I will talk now to some players on how they actually feel and then we’ll take a decision based on that.”
He added: “Now Ezri is out, I think we just have to find a solution. It is what it is. We have strong enough players for another good performance.”
Tuchel will name captain Harry Kane in his starting line-up again.
The 32-year-old striker has scored 26 goals and registered three assists in a combined 21 games for England and his club side Bayern Munich this season.
Asked whether he is currently playing the best football of his illustrious career, Kane replied: “I’d say yeah. I’d say probably yes. On a whole, physically and mentally, the goals and the way I’m involved in the game more than I have been in other years, it’s all come together nicely.
“Playing for England, I always feel I’m playing for one of the best teams and am going to get chances. In Bayern, I feel I’m in a really good moment.”









































