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Tuchel retains just 15 players from his first England squad as 11 axed after 18 months

Thomas Tuchel has made sweeping changes to his England squad since taking charge 18 months ago, with only 15 players surviving from his original 26-man selection. Injuries, retirements, and form drops account for the 11 departures.

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Tuchel retains just 15 players from his first England squad as 11 axed after 18 months
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Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the current UEFA Nations League campaign retains just 15 players from the 26-man group he first named in March last year, with 11 axed for a combination of injury, retirement, and loss of form.

The Three Lions face world champions Spain at Wembley on Saturday in the first of four Nations League fixtures, and the squad Tuchel has assembled looks markedly different from the one that faced World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia at the start of his tenure.

Four of the absentees are sidelined through injury: Dean Henderson, Dan Burn, Reece James, and Jordan Henderson. Kyle Walker, meanwhile, has retired from international football entirely.

The remaining departures reflect shifting fortunes at club level. Aaron Ramsdale, once a first-choice England goalkeeper, has fallen to fourth-choice status at Championship side Southampton. Jarrod Bowen has also dropped out of the Premier League picture, though the door may reopen should West Ham win promotion.

In defence, Levi Colwill has been passed over in favour of Jarrad Branthwaite. Curtis Jones is absent following a difficult final season at Liverpool before his summer move to Inter Milan. Phil Foden has been left out for the second time in succession — Tuchel cited an overabundance of options in the number 10 role — while Dominic Solanke, limited to one goal this season amid Tottenham’s struggles, has also missed the cut.

Of the 15 survivors, Jordan Pickford, James Trafford, Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze, Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Morgan Rogers, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, and Marcus Rashford all retain their places alongside a handful of defenders from the original selection.

Tuchel’s first squad featured Jarell Quansah, Ezri Konsa, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Tino Livramento, and Marc Guehi in defence — a group that has seen significant reshaping as the German coach continues to put his stamp on the national side ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

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