Tuchel names England squad for Nations League clashes with Croatia and Spain

Thomas Tuchel has named his England squad for the November international break, with the Three Lions facing Croatia at Wembley on November 12 before travelling to the Metropolitano to face Spain on November 15 in what could be a decisive double-header in UEFA Nations League Group A3.

England are not yet mathematically through to the quarter-finals, though they are close. Spain lead the group by three points with two games remaining, meaning England will likely need to beat the reigning European champions in Madrid to top the group and control their own seeding in the last eight.

Tuchel’s selection comes with familiar questions around Cole Palmer. The Chelsea midfielder was absent from October’s squad after withdrawing through injury, prompting a candid response from the head coach. “It’s another missed opportunity,” Tuchel said at the time. “He misses too many opportunities… If you’re not in camp, there’s a next level to impress that you cannot achieve because you only can do it when you’re actually with me on the pitch.” England are understood to have consulted Chelsea over Palmer’s fitness ahead of this announcement.

Phil Foden, who was left out of the October squad entirely, is another name to watch. Tuchel selected 27 players for the previous break, giving himself a wide pool to assess, but the two fixtures in quick succession — with Premier League football resuming on November 21 — mean the squad will face a compressed schedule.

Should England progress, the Nations League quarter-finals are scheduled as two-legged ties between March 25 and 30, 2027, with group winners seeded and hosting the second leg. The draw takes place in late November at UEFA headquarters in Nyon once the group stage concludes. Potential opponents from League A include France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, Greece, Germany, and Denmark, depending on how the remaining matchdays unfold.

The Finals — a four-team tournament hosted in a neutral country — are set for June 9 to 13, 2027.