Thomas Tuchel has thrown Cole PalmerâÂÂs England future into major doubt by questioning whether the Chelsea attacker wants to be part of his squad.
EnglandâÂÂs head coach did not hold back on PalmerâÂÂs latest withdrawal from international duty, warning that the 24-year-old has missed too many opportunities to play for his country. Palmer has only 14 caps and his decision not to join up with the squad this week, because of a minor muscular injury, caused disappointment given he was left out of TuchelâÂÂs World Cup squad after struggling with form and fitness last season.
Tuchel has put a lot of store in team spirit and is clear about wanting commitment. The German has rarely been able to work with Palmer, who had earned a high-profile recall after making a strong start to the campaign, and did not go down the diplomatic route when it was suggested the former Manchester City player does not seem desperate to play for England. âÂÂHard to argue against what youâÂÂre saying,â Tuchel said.
The line came with a warning for Palmer. âÂÂHe misses too many camps,â Tuchel said. âÂÂThatâÂÂs the overall headline. We have a lot of invitations and he couldnâÂÂt make this one. It is what it is. I am not ready to focus on players who are not here. The players that are here have my full attention.
âÂÂIâÂÂm going to tell you a story,â Luis de la Fuente said. âÂÂAs soon as the game finished on 19 July, before anyone had cooled down at all, just two or three minutes after the final, one of the players â and youâÂÂll have to forgive me for not telling you which one, but it was one of those who has been with us for the longest time â came up to me and said: âÂÂMister, now what? WhatâÂÂs left to win?â And I said: âÂÂBloody hell, the game against England at Wembley on 26 September.âÂÂâÂÂ
It was a Friday afternoon at Las Rozas and SpainâÂÂs coach had just named his first squad since that day in New Jersey. It was a familiar one, full of history makers. Of the 26 from the World Cup, only four had been left out and there was an explanation for each: Marcos Llorente has announced his international retirement; Joan GarcÃÂa is injured; Borja Iglesias, who always felt the likeliest to leave first, is not fully fit; and Gavi is suspended for Wembley, although he could have faced Croatia and Czechia.
Leeds goalkeeper James Trafford starts ahead of Jordan Pickford, a selection that few people saw coming. Pickford is among the subs, so this might be the end of his long spell as EnglandâÂÂs undisputed No1. Myles Lewis-Skelly covers for Declan Rice in midfield and Jarell Quansah is preferred to Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back.
Ferran Torres and Nico Williams, the substitutes who combined for SpainâÂÂs World Cup-winning goal against Argentina, start ahead of Alex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal. The only other change from that game is in defence, where Eric Garcia replaces the injured Pedro Porro at right-back.
England (4-2-3-1) Trafford; Quansah, Konsa, Guehi, OâÂÂReilly; Anderson, Lewis-Skelly; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.
Subs: Pickford, Steele, Alexander-Arnold, Scott, Chalobah, Hall, Branthwaite, Rogers, Garner, Calvert-Lewin, Gibbs-White, Eze.
Spain (4-3-3) Simon; Garcia, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Olmo, Rodri, Ruiz; Yamal, Torres, Williams.
Subs: Raya, Martinez, Huijsen, Grimaldo, Merino, Lopez, Pino, Pubill, Baena, Zubimendi, Pedri, Oyarzabal.
Referee Davide Massa (Italy)
Thomas Tuchel has pictured the scene. It comes after the final whistle has blown on EnglandâÂÂs Nations League opener against Spain on Saturday night, the first post-World Cup fixture for both teams, and it has Wembley swaying to the strains of Wonderwall. It is a moment of communion, a reconnection with the Oasis classic that was the soundtrack to EnglandâÂÂs World Cup campaign, which delivered so much only to end in such disappointment.
âÂÂDo I think it will happen tomorrow?â Tuchel said, when asked if Wonderwall would play again afterwards. âÂÂI think it will happen if we win.âÂÂ
There are a couple of counterpoints. The visit of Spain is certainly a glamour fixture and Wembley is sold out in anticipation, but it is not a World Cup knockout tie. The emotion cannot pulse to the same levels. Furthermore, Tuchel has first-hand experience of the vagaries of the Wembley crowd; its hard-to-please restlessness.
We interupt the Manchester City news cycle to bring you live coverage of a football match: England v Spain in the Nations League, aka the World Cup final that wasnâÂÂt.
U over it yet, hun? ItâÂÂs been 73 days since EnglandâÂÂs grisly collapse against Argentina, and itâÂÂs not getting any better with age. But thereâÂÂs always a next time in football, and another home European Championship should give England a decent shot in glory.
The road to Euro 2028 begins with four Nations League games in 11 days: Spain (H), Czechia (A), Croatia (A), Czechia (H). The matches against the C-teams are likely to determine whether England qualify for the quarter-finals. In different circumstances, tonightâÂÂs game would be a free hit. But the manner of â and reaction to â the Argentina defeat invalidates all that.
In the parlance of our times, Thomas Tuchel and England need to restore public trust. Beating the world champions, who havenâÂÂt lost since March 2024, would be a good way to start.
The alternative is less appealing, especially in these febrile times. Never mind the news cycle: if England are hammered tonight, it could be the start of a doom cycle.
Kick off 7.45pm.