England squad: Alexander-Arnold and Palmer recalled by Tuchel as Foden misses out

By Jack Shaw · England · Published: 12:15 BST

• Thomas Tuchel has named a 27-man England squad for the forthcoming Nations League fixtures.
• Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer both return, while Alex Scott and Rio Ngumoha are also included.
• There is no place for Phil Foden, the most conspicuous absentee from a squad carrying eight recognised forwards.
  

England squad in full: who Tuchel picked for the Nations League

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, James Trafford, Jason Steele. Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarrod Branthwaite, Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Guehi, Lewis Hall, Ezri Konsa, Tino Livramento, Nico O’Reilly, Jarrell Quansah. Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Alex Scott. Forwards: Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Eberechi Eze, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, Rio Ngumoha, Marcus Rashford, Morgan Rogers, Bukayo Saka.

Thomas Tuchel set out his reasoning for the recalls when he faced the media on Friday morning, with the Guardian reporting that he addressed the Alexander-Arnold and Palmer decisions and the Ngumoha selection directly.

For the full rolling timeline of the announcement, the press conference and the reaction across the Premier League, follow JOE Sport.

Here it is! 🤩

Thomas Tuchel's first #ThreeLions squad of the 2026-27 season 🦁 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

— England (@England) September 18, 2026

The expert angle: the shape of the squad says more than the names

Read the list by positions and the thinking becomes obvious.

Tuchel has gone nine deep in defence and only seven in midfield, and one of those nine defenders is Alexander-Arnold, a right-back whose entire value to an England team is what he does with the ball in the opposition half.

That is not a conservative selection dressed up as a back line. It is a manager giving himself the option to build with an extra passer and push the creative load higher up the pitch.

Which is where Cole Palmer comes in. His recall into a seven-man midfield means he is not fighting for a place in a crowded queue – there is no queue.

Between Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, Elliot Anderson, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Alex Scott, Tuchel has picked a midfield group that is focused on ball progression.

And then there is the omission.

Leaving out Phil Foden from a squad this front-loaded – eight forwards, including Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Eberechi Eze and Morgan Rogers is not a numbers problem.

It is a choice, and it is the one Tuchel will be asked about for the next fortnight.

The counterweight is Rio Ngumoha, who has been called up for the first time.

Is Foden’s continued omission while calling up Ngumoha the boldest England selection of Tuchel’s tenure, or a risk he will regret by November?

While you decide, catch up with Bukayo Saka’s matchwinner at Villa Park.

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