Thomas Tuchel has been brutal and ruthless with some huge calls for England's World Cup squad. The England boss dumped the likes of Phil Foden, Harry Maguire and Cole Palmer while bringing back Ivan Toney after 12 months out in the wilderness in the Saudi Pro League. These are massive decisions - and huge gambles. But this is a manager who has no time for reputations and cares even less about what other people think.
Toney's Unlikely Return
Toney, 30, looked so far off making the World Cup when he left Brentford to go to Al Ahli and then only got two minutes in his last cap as a substitute in a friendly against Senegal last June. Now, fast forward a year, Toney is in after 42 goals and 11 assists as part of a three-strong strike force with Harry Kane and Ollie Watkins who is also back from the cold.
Palmer and Foden Axed
There was no room for sentiment or reputation when it came to Palmer or Foden. There was a belief one would miss out - and then he has dumped them both. It is remarkable. Palmer has struggled for form and fitness - and now he has paid the ultimate price. This is a player who was one of England's performers at the last Euros. Now he is out. Foden has barely played at Manchester City this season. But he went to the last Euros as the best player in the Premier League with England fans chanting: 'Phil Foden's on fire…' Now he is out of the picture.
Maguire's England Career Ended
There is no room for Maguire either. Or Luke Shaw. Forget how they played for Manchester United in the second half of the season. There is no room for Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White. Lewis Hall is out. No Adam Wharton. Noni Madueke has made it. Maguire's England career has been ended by his omission. That was not that surprising compared to Palmer or Toney. Back in March, Tuchel made it very clear that Maguire was effectively sixth choice behind the likes of John Stones, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi and Dan Burn. Jarrel Quansah is back in. Maguire confirmed: 'I was confident I could have played a major part this summer for my country after the season I've had. I've been left shocked and gutted by the decision. I wish the players all the best.'
Tuchel's Gamble
Tuchel was hired to get England over the line - and he is not interested in making friends or a popularity contest. The England boss would not be picking Jordan Henderson otherwise. But he is interested in good tourists, a happy camp and Henderson plays into that. But this is a world away from the days of Gareth Southgate when he was accused of being too loyal, sticking to his tried and trusted for too long. Instead, this has Fabio Capello vibes of 2010 when he lost the plot at the last minute and tried to bring Paul Scholes back out of retirement. Roy Hodgson had a wobble ahead of 2014. These are huge calls and Tuchel will be judged on these decisions.
Watkins Returns
Aston Villa striker Watkins was left out in March but has been in sensational form since and will surely make the cut. It is understood that Tuchel, after the second of the two friendlies in March against Japan, had an exhaustive and lengthy meeting with coaches Anthony Barry and Justin Cochrane. They decided then they needed to look again and potentially look outside of the 35 names in that squad for Japan and Uruguay. Foden had been given his chance - and did not take it. That is when Toney was put back on the scene and that also was when Tuchel decided he was just going to go for it. He will live and die by his decisions - and has put everything on the line.
Possible England Squad
England (possible): Pickford, Henderson, Trafford; James, Quansah, Konsa, Stones, Guehi, O'Reilly, Burn, Lewis-Skelly; Rice, Anderson, Mainoo, Henderson, Rogers, Eze, Bellingham; Saka, Madueke, Rashford, Gordon; Kane, Watkins, Toney.
