- Thomas Tuchel makes his bow as England manager on Friday night at Wembley
- The German is tasked with ending the nation’s 59-year wait for a major trophy
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Is England’s squad good enough to win the World Cup?
Morgan Gibbs-White, Jarell Quansah and Aaron Ramsdale have reportedly been omitted from the England squad to face Albania on Friday night.
Thomas Tuchel named a 26-man squad for the Three Lions’ World Cup qualifiers at Wembley this week, when the German will look to get his tenure as England boss off to the perfect start.
However, he will be forced to cut the bloated group for each of the matchday squads as rosters are permitted to include a maximum of 23 players. As a result, Nottingham Forest star Gibbs-White, Liverpool youngster Quansah and Southampton‘s Ramsdale will play no part in proceedings at Wembley, according to the BBC.
Gibbs-White, who received a late call-up after Cole Palmer withdrew from the squad, can consider himself unfortunate to miss out, given his form club form this season.
Quansah, and to a less extent Ramsdale, would have expected a cut from the expanded side. The former has largely had to make do with substitute appearances for the Reds this season.
Ramsdale, meanwhile, appears to have lost his place to Burnley youngster James Trafford thanks, in large part, to the Clarets remarkable defensive record this season.
Thomas Tuchel has been forced to cut three England stars from the squad taking on Albania on Friday night
Morgan Gibbs-White received a late call-up after Cole Palmer withdrew from the squad with injury
Liverpool youngster Jarell Quansah has had to make do with substitute appearances this term
On Thursday, ahead of the start of what England hope will be a successful reign, Tuchel delivered a damning assessment of England’s style under Gareth Southgate at Euro 2024.
Listing the ingredients missing, Tuchel said: ‘The identity, the clarity, the rhythm, the repetition of patterns, the freedom of player, the expression of player, the hunger. They were more afraid to drop out of the tournament in my observation than having the excitement and hunger to win.’
On what he wants from England instead, as they face Albania on Friday night and Latvia on Monday, Tuchel said: ‘I want that when the opponents come out and see our team lined up in the tunnel that they know, oofff, this is going to be tough, they will give us a hard time, these guys are individually good, they play in the best clubs but, oofff, these guys, they seem to be close friends, they seem to be ready to die for each other, this is going to be a tough time.
‘You can be sure that if I say something in a press conference, I have addressed it to the players. The players know my assessment (of Euro 2024) but it’s not even addressed backwards.
‘It’s addressed “what I want now”. The message is up front. I felt they were holding back – the group did not play with enough excitement and togetherness to make it happen.’