England manager Thomas Tuchel latest squad selection for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers has sparked debate, as several England Premier League stars were overlooked. Bournemouth Lewis Cook, despite his consistency, remains uncapped since 2018. Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest Morgan Gibbs-White, with 5 goals and 7 assists this season, was initially excluded but later replaced the injured Cole Palmer.
As the new England manager, Thomas Tuchel has made several surprising selections and omissions in his first squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia. Notably, Bournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook, who earned his only England cap in 2018, was overlooked despite consistent performances. Former teammate Charlie Daniels and Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola have both praised Cook’s form, arguing that he deserves another chance at international level.
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White was initially left out but later received a call-up after Cole Palmer withdrew due to injury. Gibbs-White, who has contributed five goals and seven assists this season, admitted he was disappointed but respected Tuchel’s decision. He also revealed that Tuchel jokingly asked if he was “still upset” before inviting him to the squad.
Additionally, Newcastle’s Dan Burn was called up for the first time but shared a humorous moment when Tuchel told him it was “unprofessional” to be awake after 10 p.m. Tuchel has also faced criticism for including Jordan Henderson and Marcus Rashford while leaving out other in-form players like Callum Hudson-Odoi and Conor Gallagher. Fans continue to debate his selections, with some questioning his long-term plans for the national team.
