England boss Thomas Tuchel has called for increased competition among players vying for a spot in the national squad, suggesting that a "spicy" atmosphere will benefit the team as they prepare for upcoming World Cup qualifiers and next summer's World Cup. Tuchel made these comments following the announcement of his 24-man squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia in September.
Several high-profile players were omitted from the squad, including Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker, and Harry Maguire. Tuchel explained that these decisions were made to stimulate greater competition within the squad and to keep players on their toes. He emphasized that no player's place is guaranteed and that the door remains open for anyone to prove their worth in the lead-up to the World Cup.
Tuchel's squad announcement also included some surprises, with maiden call-ups for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson and Tottenham full-back Djed Spence. Adam Wharton was also selected by Tuchel for the first time, while Tino Livramento returned from Under-21s duty. Tuchel highlighted the impressive form of Spence, who has made 35 appearances for Tottenham and stood out in the UEFA Super Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain. He also praised Anderson's physicality, passing ability, and contributions to the Under-21s European Championship-winning team.
The England squad will convene at St. George's Park to begin preparations for the upcoming matches. They will first face Andorra at Villa Park on September 6, marking England's return to the West Midlands venue for the first time since 2005. Tuchel expressed his enthusiasm for playing at Villa Park, describing it as "one of the most emotional and loudest stadiums in the country". Following the Andorra match, England will travel to Belgrade to face Serbia on September 9.
England currently lead their qualifying group after wins over Albania, Latvia, and Andorra in Tuchel's first three games. With the World Cup qualifiers and the tournament itself on the horizon, Tuchel is aiming to create a competitive environment where players are constantly striving to improve and secure their place in the squad. He believes that this "spicy" competition will ultimately benefit the team's performance and increase their chances of success.
