England Squad Announcement: Thomas Tuchel Press Conference 🏴
Thomas Tuchel speaks after announcing his England squad. Hear his thoughts on the big selection calls and key decisions. Follow more on the BBC Sport app, iPlayer and Sounds. ============= Find us here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BBCMOTD X: https://x.com/BBCMOTD Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcfootball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bbcsport bbcfootball
Transcript
Okay, good morning everyone and welcome to Wembley Stadium for this squad announcement for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Uh before we get underway, Thomas will begin with a few opening remarks, and then we'll throw it open to two questions per person. >> Yeah, good morning everyone. Thanks for coming, and of course, you saw squad selection for the World Cup, which is an exciting day for for me, and I think for for everyone selected. Um I think from day one, we were very clear that we are trying to select and build the best possible team, which is not necessarily to select and collect the 26 most talented players. Teams win championships. It's as simple as that. And um what we are trying to achieve in summer can only be achieved as a team. That in mind, we chose a very balanced squad. We chose three goalkeepers, plus Jason Steele. I want to take the opportunity and thank Jason for for being brilliant, and thank Brighton for for being so cooperative and supportive. We choose nine defenders for four positions. We chose um seven midfielders for three positions, and we chose seven strikers for three positions. I can assure every fan in the country that we have 26 100% committed players in camp with us, who know their role, who are ready to buy into their role on and off the pitch, and uh who are ready and committed to the idea of team spirit and being unselfish. Um the squad, I think, has uh a significant number of players that will compete for starting minutes and starting places. That gives us also the chance to rotate on a very high level. Um, and um, a significant number of players who carry the the sportive responsibility on highest level. We have a huge chunk of usefulness in the squad. We have six players who won uh, titles with the under 21s. We have Kobe who is still young and has already won his titles. We have Nico O'Reilly on top who is very young and has already won his medals. We have specialists with us, specialists for all kinds of different scenarios. When we're leading, when we're chasing a um, when we're chasing a a game, when we're chasing a result. We always said we want to be a strong set piece team. So, we have specialists for that and we want to be a strong penalty team. We have specialists for that. And uh, last and for sure not least, we have a decent leadership group in camp. We have a decent leadership group with us in the World Cup. The leadership group took care and ownership uh, in a very special way from September onwards. Um, they created a culture, they set the tone, they set the standards, created and took care of the standards and we were very happy with that. And that is why the majority of this team and that is majority of the selection is uh, is from the players who were with us in September, October and November. Um, it's important for me to say that I'm very grateful to all players uh, who helped us qualify. To all players who had sometimes only one of six camps with us. Um, very grateful and uh, I tried to show my respect and uh, my appreciation for what they have done in uh, telling them in personal phone calls in the last 3 days about my decision. So, I called every player that was at least once with us personally to to tell them my decision even if it was yeah, a painful decision or it was a disappointing message. We believe that it has to be delivered from me. I will not go into details, of course, but I tried to explain and explain my decision and try to express my appreciation and respect for the player. No more questions? Good. >> Hundreds. >> Hundreds. >> So, it's nice to see you and thanks for explaining that. That's very helpful. You've surprised us again. Um I want to start with perhaps what we thought was the biggest surprise and that's Ivan Toney's inclusion. Um he's played a total of 7 minutes of international football in your 16 months in charge. He wasn't on a lot of people's radar and yet here he is in your World Cup squad. Can you explain that to us? >> Also a bit of a surprise to us. So, but like I said, when it when it came down to to to all different kinds of scenarios, he was back in the picture. I had fantastic feedback from from his coach uh from his from his club coach who was who was my player and and I have a close connection with him. I have always fantastic feedback about his role there, about his ability, about his fitness. We could see that he still collects the numbers. Um I think he has uh very special skills that could help us meaning the situation, the scenario when we're when we're chasing a result, when we're chasing a goal. I think he can be a very valuable addition to Harry Kane. He can be a presence in the box uh when we're when we're pushing for for a goal. He can take uh attention of uh other strikers. He has um a natural present within the box. He's a natural finisher. He can help us with set pieces because he's very strong in the air. Very good in using his body and not to forget he's a world-class penalty taker. So, he ticks some boxes that we wanted to be ticked. >> You made it clear again in your opening statement that reputation, big names are not necessarily what matters to you. It's how they fit in the collective. And you've said that consistently, I think, in all your time in charge, to be fair. But, there are some world-class talents that are not in this squad that other nations will look at and say, "How are Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Harry Maguire, Trent Alexander-Arnold, et cetera, Morgan Gibbs-White? How are they not in this squad? How have you left them out?" Do you fear leaving their talents out? >> Say again, the the question >> leaving those talents at home at all? >> How I How I felt or how you feel? >> A fear? >> Yeah, do you fear leaving those talents at home? >> No, I don't fear because I'm very confident in in the group that we chose and with whom we arrived uh with which we arrive. Um Very difficult decisions, painful conversations, um difficult difficult um for the players, difficult to to explain to the players. But, as I said, what we're trying to achieve, we try to achieve as a as a team and um we try to to nominate a balanced squad. If everyone is selected, it was a given that from these 55 players, we have to leave some extraordinary talents, some extraordinary personalities at home. Um either way, if we would have picked all these names, some other big five names would have been out and we were talking we would talk about these names. So, that comes with the job. I like these kind of um decisions, even if uh um they took us weeks and sometimes months to clarify the decisions. I think they bring clarity. I think they bring in the end a certain edge that is that is necessary. Yeah, I I tried to explain the reasons for the players. Could they be in in camp? Did they do anything wrong? No. Could they be in camp? Yes, 100% sure. But for some of them it's just it's just the amount of players on a certain position. We didn't want to play the players out of position so much and we don't want to give them a clear role and it comes with difficult and and maybe hard choices in the in the build up to the tournament. >> Hi Thomas. You said a lot of painful decisions to to make for players and difficult phone calls. One player who's released a statement saying he was disappointed was Harry Maguire. Do you understand him releasing a statement or were you a bit surprised to see that after after you spoke to him? >> Um I was a bit surprised. But I respect his personality a lot. I respect his his quality a lot. He had an outstanding season. I can see the disappointment. I can I can see the reason behind the disappointment. Still I was a bit surprised because he we we had a private we had a private conversation and he had the chance to express his feelings which he did and this is this is fair enough because I can see all the reasons why he should could be in the squad but the decision is that we that we stood firmly with our central defenders that that carried us through September, October, November. There are some of them are part of of a leadership group that took ownership and and set the standards high and we just it was a decision for these 23 for these 26 players. Um even if it feels that it's against individuals. Sammy. >> Hi Thomas. Um, can you confirm please the the makeup of the of the leadership group and how you came to make those decisions with regards to the the identity of those players? And just a a quick >> How I decided who's in the leadership group? >> Yeah. Why you decided those players >> a March camp and we had a June camp and then it was was pretty clear for us who should be in there. I see no value in sharing it with you to be honest. So, I will keep it I will keep it to myself. It's a it's a group of five, six players and this is always like it's always a fluidity possible in the group, but they took ownership, they took care and and they were massively influential and I was very, very happy with the with the way they they acted and interacted and how they stepped up. So, there is no need to change that. >> And just a quick one. Um, will you be inviting any extra players for the for the Florida camp to make up for the players and and Dean Henderson missing out because of their commitments at club level? >> Yeah, I think Dino Dino is not an issue because we have Jason Steele in camp. So, we can start with three goalkeepers and later we have four. But, yeah, we will take some some some young players out who will train with us and keep the the the the squad in the size that we need that we have all the possibilities also for the for the two friendly matches to take care about the minutes and the load of the players. So, this will be Alex Scott is confirmed. Rio Ngumoha is confirmed and Josh King and there will be one more player which we cannot name because it's not confirmed yet. But, I'm I'm happy that these guys are with us, especially Alex who was even on the list of 55 and had a kind of a disappointing phone call as well that he didn't make the first cut. But, the reaction of him was was outstanding. The the the commitment, the wish to be in in pre-camp and and to just be a be a step closer to the team was was just was not even a question for him and and that showed me his character and his spirit. So, I'm I'm delighted that he's with us because it was a close call and gets a chance to take a step closer and to get a cap. >> Gary. >> Thomas, a big day for you. I know how much you love your players, so I know it's been a really tough 48 hours. But you're brought in here to make tough decisions. You're a winner. 60 years of hurt now. What makes you believe you can win this World Cup? >> I heard recently a quote from from from Rafa Nadal who said, "I'm not a winner. I'm a I'm a competitor. I'm a I'm a challenger." And that is basically how I arrive in in in in the US for this tournament. I'm I'm hungry. I arrive with hunger. I arrive with excitement and I arrive as a competitor and as a challenger and I think that is [clears throat] the role for us as a team. That is how I want the team to play. This is how I want the team to to to develop and this is why we picked that squad and that's why I'm so sure that we picked the right squad. Um it is about building a brotherhood. It is about building excitement and and a certain energy and then I feel that we can transmit this to our fans who are either in the stadium or or back here in England pushing. And once we get this energy right, everything is possible. So, um we said it very early. We will try to go all the way. We will try to win this tournament, but it's very very quickly. It just makes no sense to try and digest the whole the whole cake at once. We will chunk it up. We will try to have the best possible pre-camp, um have a little break in between and then go to Kansas, switch locations, and go into the tunnel to start the group phase. >> Well, there is no doubt in quality is Morgan Rogers and Jude Bellingham. Some people will see that as a problem in terms of selection. How do you prepare to handle a very nice problem? >> I think they are like they're just two of the names who are potential starters, who are potential starters on the same position. I think there is there is still variety within these these positions. So, they can they can also play together. That is that that should not be a problem. If they compete for one position through the tournament, I think it is possible to compete for a position as com- complices, and you don't have to you don't have to be enemies. In the example of Morgan Rogers and Jude Bellingham, they're friends anyway. So, we have we have a couple of others. We have Bukayo Saka and Noni who fight for the same place in in the club, and they they and that is it is I I strongly believe that it is possible that you fight for your place and still push your friend, your colleague, especially in international football to the best possible performance. And that will come back to you, and we will we took a lot of care about that that the exactly this energy is right. They know their roles. I have no doubts that we chose the right players, and I have no doubts that that Jude and Morgan will get along well, and I have no doubt that they will be both decisive for us. >> David. >> Hi Thomas. You've picked John Stones who hasn't played a lot of football for Manchester City this season. Very experienced, but is he ready to play a meaningful part on the pitch for your team? >> Yes, otherwise I would not have picked him. He's excited to come, and I am excited to have him. I am a huge believer in in in John. I think he's a world-class player. He's a amazing character, and a proven winner. He knows how to adapt to to a winning culture. He knows how to how to adapt tactically on the field. He is still on a on highest level when I see him play, when I see him move. We analyze a lot of his training data because I I get your question. There's not a lot of proof in the in the last half of the season, unfortunately. The good news is he was available, so he was not out. He was available. The bad news was he wasn't selected as much as we all hoped for. But I think we can take advantage of our late start to the tournament in this case. We have still I think over 4 weeks until our first match. We will give him now we will reconnect with our principles. We have the chance to let him play two friendly matches and then I I hope and I I truly believe that he will have a strong tournament for us. >> Another player you have picked, Noni Madueke. >> Yeah. >> Why have you picked him over say someone like Jarrod Bowen or even maybe Cole Palmer who could play on the right as well? >> Yeah, I mean you mentioned Chair. Chair was in every was just one of the players under the radar maybe, but he was just excellent in every camp. Excellent in every camp for us and and then gets the phone call that he's not on the plane. Does Chair suffer a bit from the situation at his at his club? It's difficult for him and does Noni and and Bukayo profit from the situation at their club? They play in finals. They they they they they back the the the Premier League title. They play in a Champions League final. So it's a question of of concurrence. Without telling too much, the reaction of of of Chair was just outstanding. It just proved again what kind of character he is, how much he buys into the team spirit. Even if it was a a difficult one and a and a disappointing message for him. Was a very difficult choice to make. Noni was excellent for us in the matches that he played. I believe that he can be a difference maker. I even believe that he didn't play so regularly, but he is used to coming on coming off can be a big advantage and and I believe in his ability to change matches in his ability to disrupt defensive organizations with his one-on-one. So that was the choice. Ethan and Henry. >> Hi Thomas, UK. I just wanted to focus on one specific player that might have raised a few eyebrows. The left back position, Jed Spence. You know, he's currently playing at Spurs. They're fighting for relegation at the moment. A lot of people are saying that he's got no goals this season, no assists. I guess what was the specific tactical reason of choosing him? >> First of all, he was excellent in every single match that he played for us. He suffers from the third change of of of coach at his at his club. Since then he doesn't get a lot of minutes. Of course, he suffers from the situation. He is part of the situation as well. He's a part of the situation at Tottenham. He brings something to the group that we don't have in his profile. I think he loves defending. He's the fastest player in our squad and he loves to defend one-on-ones and that is just a characteristic I would say makes him a standout fullback for us and a bit of a special special fullback for us. He can on top of that play both sides. We had this discussion to be very open to you before the March camp with Jed. We said we're a bit concerned what's going on in in in Tottenham. You don't get the minutes. You don't have the impact that you want to see from you. If you come here in March, you have to prove yourself again. Which he honestly did because both of our fullbacks Tino and Jed were just excellent against against Uruguay. And that was basically then was the decision that I can really trust him and he brings something to our group which makes him unique. >> Thomas, hi. First, good luck in at the World Cup. >> Thanks. >> Um secondly, you say the teams win championships and that it's not about the most talented players, but the history of the World Cup, it's Messi, it's Mbappé, it's Ronaldo, Romário, Zidane. >> Yeah. >> I mean, these are individuals who've won World Cups. How do you balance that? >> I think we have these names and hopefully we have one name in the end of it that says like he carried the team or he had the decisive moments. I think we have we have world-class players within our ranks. We have big names, but everyone, like I said, is committed to buy into the idea as a team, is ready to to to be self to be selfless. And and and we have proof of that and that's why I feel very confident and yeah, I agree with you. Um the it it seems like the the big names are around, but I if I look at our squad, I see some big names who can have all the headlines if we go all the way. >> Hi Thomas. Hi. Um you mentioned squad rotation earlier and I just wondered how important is it to you that as many players as possible get minutes in particularly in the group stages. Is that something that's a priority? >> I'm I'm not so yeah, uh ideally yes. Um but uh once we're in group stage, I will maybe I don't know. I will maybe adapt and change my mind or adapt to the way of of of rotating. I mean, the the the challenge is clear. It will be hot, it will be humid. Um it can we can have a game in in huge altitude, so it's one match more than usual because of the amount of teams. So So would it make sense to rotate? Yes. And does it show also a level of trust to the players that we trust them? Yes. But then um yeah, I think we have a significant amount of of players who who hope to start and it's more than just 11. So we will be able to rotate on a high level uh and and and give minutes and spread the minutes. Um yeah, hopefully we can do this without without losing momentum, without losing um connections between the players because we haven't played uh in in in certain formation since since November. Uh because in March came some players, some key players were injured. So it has to be a mix, I think, of everything. Um history shows that it makes sense to rotate in the beginning of the tournament, but I also don't want to lose the the the the chance to build uh automatism and and to build connections and on the pitch. >> Hi Thomas. Um you spoke about the spirit the squad need to have to win the World Cup. I was wondering how much of the sp