Tuchel names huge England squad as Calvert-Lewin and Maguire make shock returns | OneFootball

England head coach Thomas Tuchel has named a 35-man squad for the upcoming international friendlies, with several notable recalls and omissions highlighting fierce competition ahead of the World Cup.

England are set to face Uruguay national football team and Japan national football team at Wembley later this month.

Among the headline inclusions are Kobbie Mainoo and Lewis Hall, both of whom return to the squad after strong club performances.

Mainoo has regained form at Manchester United and earns a recall after being out of the international picture since late 2024.

Hall’s inclusion follows an impressive run with Newcastle United after recovering from injury.

There is also a return for Harry Maguire, who is back in the fold after more than a year away from the national team.

Fikayo Tomori and Adam Wharton retain their places, while Jarell Quansah is included as Tuchel continues to assess defensive options.

In attack, Dominic Calvert-Lewin receives a surprise recall after five years out of the international setup.

James Garner is handed a first senior call-up, while Jason Steele is a notable inclusion among the goalkeepers.

Tuchel has opted for a larger squad to assess fringe players and expand his options ahead of the tournament.

“This is the last chance to open up the picture and create competition for places,” Tuchel said.

However, the squad announcement has also drawn attention for several high-profile omissions.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been left out despite recent involvement at club level.

Tuchel explained that he is already aware of the defender’s qualities and wanted to assess alternative options.

Ollie Watkins, Luke Shaw and Morgan Gibbs-White are also absent from the squad.

Meanwhile, Reece James misses out due to injury.

Tuchel has also resisted calling up highly rated youngster Max Dowman, choosing instead to manage expectations around the emerging talent.

The England manager has split the squad into two phases for the upcoming camp.

A core group will report initially, with several senior players joining later to manage workload and fitness.

Key figures such as Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice will link up with the squad closer to the second fixture.

Jude Bellingham has been included despite recent injury, although his minutes are expected to be managed carefully.

The squad represents Tuchel’s final selection before naming his World Cup roster.

With places still up for grabs, the upcoming friendlies are expected to play a decisive role in shaping England’s plans for the tournament.

The mix of returning players, new faces and notable omissions underlines the competitive nature of selection as Tuchel finalises his squad.

England squad in full:

Goalkeepers:Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester City), Aaron Ramsdale (Newcastle United), Jason Steele (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Defenders:Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Lewis Hall (Newcastle United), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan)

Midfielders:Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), James Garner (Everton), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)

Forwards:Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona, loan from Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur)