Thomas Tuchel has defended the omission of Phil Foden and Cole Palmer from his 26-man England squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting the decision came down to squad balance rather than any failure on the players' part.

Neither the Manchester City midfielder nor the Chelsea forward made the cut despite their undeniable quality, with Tuchel opting for Morgan Rogers and Jude Bellingham in the number 10 role and selecting specialist wingers for the wide positions.

A question of balance

Speaking at the press conference following his squad announcement, Tuchel was asked whether leaving behind players of Foden and Palmer's calibre caused him any anxiety.