Tuchel's squad selection left some notable players watching from home. Real Madrid's Trent Alexander-Arnold and Everton's Jack Grealish were not included in the latest plans. Alexander-Arnold has played
eight of Madrid's 12 games this season but has only one assist. Grealish hasn't contributed to goals in his last three Premier League matches but leads the league in assists with four.
Tuchel emphasised his responsibility to communicate with those left out. "First of all, it's my job now to make contact with everyone," he said. He plans to explain their exclusion and discuss areas for improvement. "Players like Trent, players that are on our long list, 55, 60 players, to reach out to them," Tuchel added.
Despite these omissions, England equalled a European record by winning ten consecutive competitive matches without conceding a goal. Spain previously achieved this between October 2014 and June 2016. The Three Lions' recent success includes an 11-match winning streak in competitive fixtures.
100% & 0 - England (8 games) are the second European team to win 100% of their games in a FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign without conceding, after Yugoslavia in qualification for the 1954 FIFA World Cup (4 games). Perfection.pic.twitter.com/oAHbMNGCFnOptaJoe (@OptaJoe)November 16, 2025
Brighton's Danny Welbeck was also overlooked despite scoring six Premier League goals this season. Only Manchester City's Erling Haaland and Brentford's Igor Thiago have scored more.
Tuchel's Approach to Player Engagement
When asked about his communication methods, Tuchel admitted his dislike for phone calls but acknowledged their necessity. "Yeah, and I hate phone calls," he said. He prefers FaceTime or visiting training grounds to better understand players' expressions and feelings.
The manager plans group visits with players like Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold at their clubs. "Listen, we've just finished this camp," Tuchel stated. He believes it's crucial to provide honest feedback even to those not regularly selected.
As England gears up for the World Cup next summer, Tuchel remains focused on maintaining open lines of communication with all potential squad members.
