England manger Thomas Tuchel defends shock squad omissions as Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish left out | OneFootball

Thomas Tuchel has sparked debate with his latest England squad selection, omitting high-profile names Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Jack Grealish for October’s fixtures against Wales and Latvia. Despite their strong recent form, the trio were overlooked as Tuchel opted for continuity, rewarding the players who delivered emphatic wins over Andorra and Serbia last month.

As reported by Sky Sports, Tuchel explained his decision by emphasising rhythm and consistency. Bellingham, named England’s player of the year earlier this week, has only just returned from shoulder surgery, managing a single start for Real Madrid so far. “He deserves to always be in camp,” Tuchel said. “But he has not gathered full rhythm… when he gets back to full strength, he will be back.”

Foden’s omission is arguably the most surprising. The Manchester City playmaker has started the season brightly with two goals and two assists, while Grealish has rediscovered form at Everton with four assists in six games. Tuchel, however, stressed the importance of stability: “We reached a new level in the last camp. Why not pick the same players if they are available? They set the standard.”

Fit-again Bukayo Saka and John Stones return, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Jarell Quansah keep their places. Injuries to Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold further shaped Tuchel’s selection.

England currently top Group K in World Cup qualifying and could move within one win of securing their place at the 2026 finals if results go their way. Still, Tuchel’s decision to sideline three of the nation’s most creative midfielders will remain a major talking point, particularly with Wales visiting Wembley on October 9.

GFN | Finn Entwistle