Thomas Tuchel has left Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden out of the England squad for the upcoming friendly against Wales and the World Cup qualifier in Latvia, opting instead to retain the core of the group that secured a 5-0 victory in Serbia last month. The decision means two of the country's most prominent attacking talents will miss the international break, despite Foden's recent resurgence at Manchester City and Bellingham's return from shoulder surgery for Real Madrid.
Tuchel emphasised the importance of team spirit in his selection, stating that the squad from the previous camp had the best togetherness of his tenure. He confirmed that Bellingham, who has started only once for his club since returning from injury, expressed his desire to be included during a straightforward phone call. However, the head coach decided to maintain continuity, saying, 'For special players there can always be special rules, but for this camp we decided to stick with our straightforward decision to invite the same team.'
Bukayo Saka returns to the squad after recovering from injury, replacing the sidelined Noni Madueke. Jack Grealish has not been recalled, while Tino Livramento drops out due to a knee injury. John Stones, who withdrew last month, is included, with Tuchel hinting at a potential midfield role for the Manchester City defender. Ruben Loftus-Cheep retains his place, but Adam Wharton misses out after withdrawing injured last time.
Tuchel acknowledged that Bellingham remains 'one of the best players in the world' and that Foden, Grealish, and Wharton are all worthy of places, but stressed that no one would be selected on reputation alone. He warned that players must perform at club level to stay in contention, specifically citing Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly, who has not started a Premier League game this season, as someone who cannot rely solely on being a 'good citizen in camp.'
