Thomas Tuchel explains positive reason why he left Newcastle United star out of England squad | OneFootball

Thomas Tuchel named his latest England squad on Friday morning.

England playing Andorra and Senegal in June.

Thomas Tuchel naming 26 players in this England squad (see below), including two Newcastle United players, Anthony Gordon and Dan Burn.

A major surprise that Tino Livramento wasn’t also included, as he has had a great season and arguably playing even better now on the left side of defence, rather than his usual right-back spot.

Thomas Tuchel talking to the media after this latest England squad made public.

The England boss saying this, when asked about Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton missing out.

“Together with Livramento, Quansah, Delap who could come with us, there’s a major tournament coming up (Under 21s Euros) and I like the idea a lot that they become leaders in that group.”

England are the reigning champions, having won the 2023 Under 21s Euros, when Anthony Gordon was named player of the tournament.

This summer’s tournament sees the Under 21s Euro Finals to be held in Slovakia.

There are 16 countries who have qualified and England find themselves in Group B and the tournament runs from 11 June to 28 June.

The winners and runners-up from each of the four groups goes through to the knockout quarter-finals.

The England Under 21s group fixtures at these Euro finals are:

12 June 2025 – England v Czech Republic

15 June 2025 – England v Slovenia

18 June 2025 – England v Germany

It would have been good to see Tino Livramento make the senior England squad again but I can understand the reasoning. As in, better for players such as Tino to get plenty of football in this tournament, rather than squad members for the senior team in June.

You also can’t deny that it did no harm at all to so many players who won that 2023 Euro Under 21s trophy.

As well as Anthony Gordon, the likes of Cole Palmer, James Trafford and Morgan Gibbs-White also key players in that young England triumph.

The England squad (see below) was announced at 10am on Friday morning – Official announcement from The FA:

The England men’s senior squad to play Andorra and Senegal in June has been named by head coach Thomas Tuchel.

A 26-man squad has been picked for the games, which start on Saturday 7 June (5pm BST) with the next European Qualifier for the 2026 World Cup against Andorra in Barcelona.

The Three Lions then return home for an international match with Senegal at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground on Tuesday 10 June (7.45pm BST).

Tuchel has given a first senior call-up to Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah, with the defender having previously represented England from MU16s through to MU21s level.

And there are also places in the squad for Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney, Conor Gallagher, Noni Madueke and Trent Alexander-Arnold for the first time under Tuchel’s tutelage.

The group will meet up in early June and travel to Spain to prepare for the Andorra game, before returning for their game in the Midlands immediately after that.

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Kyle Walker (AC Milan, loan from Manchester City)