Analysis
Cole Palmer omission a statement by Thomas Tuchel as Ben White recalled despite boos - England squad talking points
Thomas Tuchel has named his England squad for the Nations League games with Croatia and Spain this month, so what are the key talking points? Cole Palmer's omission dominates as the Three Lions boss favours fresh favours
Friday 6 November 2026 12:03, UK
England face their final two Nations League games this month, knowing a point against Croatia will seal a place in the competition's quarter-finals.
They host Croatia at Wembley on Thursday November 12 before going to Madrid to take on world champions Spain on November 15 and Thomas Tuchel has made some big calls in his squad.
Palmer exclusion a statement from Tuchel
Cole Palmer is fit. He's in form. So, this is a statement exclusion from England boss Thomas Tuchel. An emphatic message to Palmer and other players about what is required to earn a spot in this group and stay there.
"We trust the team who was with us and had such an excellent camp [last time]," said Tuchel, when announcing his squad. "If you're in camp, if you're good and the team is flying you have every right to stay with us. You contributed in the right manner, in an excellent way."
Palmer has missed too many opportunities to do just that, Tuchel said in September, when the Chelsea ace frustratingly withdrew from international duty with injury. Palmer has been unavailable for selection because of injury three times since Tuchel took over, and he has withdrawn from a further two squads.
England checked on his fitness on the eve of this latest squad announcement and the indication was Palmer - who has started every Premier League game this season - is ready to go again this weekend.
Tuchel has options in the attacking areas Palmer likes to occupy. There are alternatives. But there's no doubt Palmer is among the most talented of the lot. But with this decision, Tuchel has shown he is willing to prioritise 'the brotherhood', as he puts it, that has been built by the England regulars.
Can Palmer break into that club? His only option is to keep fit and keep performing at the level he's shown so far this season and hope that is enough in March. For now, he's on the outside.
Peter Smith
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Does Mainoo need to mend fences with Tuchel?
Thomas Tuchel’s trust isn’t easy to earn, and Kobbie Mainoo may have done himself no favours in that department.
Mainoo had been promised more game time during the last camp after Tuchel’s admission that he was wrong not to give him any World Cup minutes. Then, the midfielder pulled out through injury.
He has since returned for Manchester United against Chelsea before playing 90 minutes against Roma, suggesting fitness wasn’t an issue this time around.
With Jobe Bellingham, competition in midfield is getting tougher. Whether it was his World Cup training efforts, pulling out of the last camp or a bit of both, Mainoo looks to have some bridges to rebuild if he holds out any hope for Euro 2028.
Callum Bishop
Foden paying for lack of impact
Shortly after the squad was announced, Man City manager Enzo Maresca spoke in his press conference about Phil Foden's omission. "The reason why he has been left out of the international team, I don't know, but we are happy with Phil," he said.
Given his club form, it's a fair point. Across the Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup, the 26-year-old has four goals and four assists in 11 appearances.
But for England, whether he plays on the left, the right or as a No 10, Foden has consistently struggled to deliver.
In his last 23 appearances for his country, he has scored once, in a 3-1 friendly win over Scotland in September 2023. Across his last 34, he has provided only four assists.
By the time the next squad is announced for the March internationals, it will have been one year since Foden's last cap - and others will have seized their chance by then.
Dan Long
Jobe's maturity in Germany earns his chance
Jobe Bellingham's performance in last weekend's Der Klassiker alone will not have earned him his England spot but may have sealed Thomas Tuchel's thinking that he was ready for the opportunity.
Bellingham has had to fight off inevitable comparisons to his brother in the Bundesliga and found his first season at Borussia Dortmund tough going, but two assists in eight games this season in a more advanced role since Joey Veerman's summer arrival has freed him up to do what he does best.
He may be thrown from the frying pan into the fire given Myles Lewis-Skelly's suspension, Alex Scott's injury and Kobbie Mainoo's absence, putting him back under the microscope of further sibling scrutiny as, potentially, one of the first brothers to play together for England in 30 years.
But given Jobe's composure in the pressure cooker of Germany's biggest game, and his adaptation to life in Germany, there are promising signs that he is ready to handle it.
Ron Walker
Can White win over England fans?
Ben White's England career looked over during his self-imposed exile following a falling-out with the coaching staff at the 2022 World Cup but his call-up shows his value to Thomas Tuchel.
His return to the fold in March was divisive. He was booed by some fans at Wembley against Uruguay, even when scoring the opening goal, and again against Japan.
But Tuchel is undeterred by the acrimony, more interested in White's form since the injuries that caused him to miss the World Cup and the last camp in September.
White has impressed for Arsenal, showing the threat he offers at right-back with three assists in seven league games. He has work to do to win over England's fanbase but Tuchel is clearly an admirer.
Nick Wright
King earns Tuchel's faith
Josh King's call-up follows a strong start to the season with Fulham. The 19-year-old has started every Premier League game under Alvaro Arbeloa and impressed in tough circumstances.
King, a regular in England's youth teams, has usurped club-record signing Emile Smith Rowe in the No 10 role for Fulham. It is a statement of Thomas Tuchel's belief in his ability that he has been picked ahead of Cole Palmer and Phil Foden.
King joined England's pre-World Cup training camp and has continued to grow in stature for Fulham this season, taking on more responsibility even at his young age.
He has two goals and an assist in the Premier League so far this season and his attacking threat is evidenced by an unmatched total of 57 touches in the opposition box, which puts him ahead of Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku.
Nick Wright
What's coming up for England?
England face their final two Nations League A3 games this month, knowing a point against Croatia will seal a place in the competition's quarter-finals.
- England vs Croatia - Thursday, November 12
- Spain vs England - Sunday, November 15
