England manager Thomas Tuchel has decided to bring back Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold for the national team. The two players were left out of Tuchel’s World Cup squad, which ended in third place for England. Palmer and Alexander-Arnold were among a host of high-profile absentees from Tuchel’s World Cup squad, including Phil Foden, Harry Maguire, and Luke Shaw.
The recalls came Friday as Tuchel named a 27-man squad for England’s first four matches in the new UEFA Nations League campaign. Alexander-Arnold returns to the England squad for the first time since June 2025. Palmer is also back after a strong start to the season with Chelsea.
Tuchel said he still stood by his decision to trust other players during the World Cup. He also said that it was now time for Alexander-Arnold to fight for his place in the team.
Tuchel told reporters that Alexander-Arnold had never been removed from consideration. He said the Real Madrid defender had started the season well and would be considered as a right-back for England. Tuchel said Alexander-Arnold needs to perform and prove that he deserves a regular place.
Tuchel has also defended the decisions he made during England’s World Cup campaign. He noted that he had to live with the consequences of his decisions and that no one was more affected than him.
England lost 2-1 to Argentina in the World Cup semifinal after giving up a late lead. Tuchel later acknowledged that he moved to a more defensive formation too early. England then defeated France to secure third place.
The manager said the new Nations League campaign gives England a chance to start another cycle. He pointed out that players like Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson are now key figures in England’s top club teams. Alex Scott continues to perform well at Bournemouth, and Kobbie Mainoo has shown strong play for Manchester United.
Scott has now been selected for the senior squad after taking part in England’s pre-World Cup training camp. Liverpool teenager Rio Ngumoha was also called up. Jarrad Branthwaite, Lewis Hall and Myles Lewis-Skelly are among the other players brought into the group.
Some commentators criticized Tuchel’s World Cup squad for leaving out players who could have offered different options. He had previously spoken about a sense of brotherhood within the team during their World Cup campaign.
Despite some players being left out, Tuchel’s team still managed to finish third at the World Cup. The manager has also indicated that he is open to making changes in the future, especially as England prepares for upcoming tournaments.
Phil Foden remains outside the squad even though Palmer and Alexander-Arnold have returned. Morgan Gibbs-White and Adam Wharton were also left out. Injuries affected several other selections.
Jordan Pickford remains the first choice goalkeeper for England and was selected again for the new squad. James Trafford, who now plays for Leeds United, was also selected along with Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele. England’s official figures list Pickford with 91 caps and 46 clean sheets.
Captain Harry Kane is still considered a top contender for the Ballon d’Or after a standout season with both club and country. Reuters reported Friday that Kane scored 73 goals for Bayern Munich and England during the 2025-26 season. Kane said he was proud of the season but was not focusing heavily on winning the individual award.
Tuchel has added Dominic Calvert-Lewin as another recognized center forward in the current squad. Ollie Watkins has moved to the Saudi Pro League and was not selected this time. Watkins joined Al-Hilal from Aston Villa on a three-year contract at the end of August.
Tuchel experimented with a false nine during the March international break, but it did not lead to any concrete changes. Phil Foden played in the role during England’s 1-0 loss to Japan when Kane was unavailable. Tuchel said afterward that England did not have another player who could simply replace Kane.
Tuchel’s World Cup squad selection came under increased scrutiny after the semifinal loss to Argentina. England still has a strong group built around players including Rice, Anderson, Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon, Palmer and Kane.
The next test will come quickly. England opens its Nations League campaign against reigning world champion Spain at Wembley on September 26. The team then travels to Prague to face Czechia on September 29 and Croatia on October 3 before hosting Czechia at Wembley on October 6.
Tuchel said England wants to reach the Nations League final four and build momentum toward Euro 2028.
IMAGE: Attribution: Sandro Halank, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0