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Tuchel Recalls Alexander-Arnold and Palmer to England Squad
Confirmed
In Short: England head coach Thomas Tuchel has recalled Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer to the national team after leaving them out of the World Cup squad.
England head coach Thomas Tuchel has recalled Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer to the national team for the upcoming Nations League camp, following their omission from the World Cup squad.
Tuchel, who faced criticism for his handling of the semifinal defeat against Argentina, said the door is always open for players to prove themselves. He emphasized that the onus is now on the players to impress during the international break.
Alexander-Arnold, 27, and Palmer, 24, have been given another chance to showcase their skills. Alexander-Arnold last played for England in June 2025, while Palmer's last appearance was in March.
Tuchel warned the players that they must perform to secure their places. He stated, 'I expect him to be on the pitch, and it’s my duty to put him on the pitch.
What's confirmed
- Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer made headline-grabbing England returns as Thomas Tuchel included Rio Ngumoha, Alex Scott and Jarrad Branthwaite in his first squad since the World Cup.
- Alexander-Arnold and Palmer were the standout inclusions, with the former included for the first time since June 2025 as the latter returned having missed out on England’s World Cup squad.
- Branthwaite, whose only cap came in June 2024, received a first call-up under Tuchel, with Lewis Hall, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Dominic Calvert-Lewin also returning to the set-up.
- Phil Foden, Morgan Gibbs-White and Adam Wharton were among those overlooked for recalls as Tuchel dropped World Cup squad members Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney and Noni Madueke.
- “It’s a long camp, four matches and we’re happy to have him back.” Tuchel says Palmer has been recalled having got “his numbers back” at Chelsea, while Ngumoha and Scott are brought in after impressing during the Florida training camp.
What's still developing
- They were among a host of high-profile absentees from Tuchel’s World Cup squad, along with Phil Foden, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw.
- However, Tuchel was criticised for his handling of the semifinal defeat by Argentina, when leading 1-0 until the 85th minute, before losing 2-1.
- Tuchel controversially left Real Madrid right-back Alexander-Arnold and Chelsea forward Palmer out of his squad for the summer tournament in North America.
- Alexander-Arnold, 27, won the most recent of his 34 England caps when he came on as a substitute in a 1-0 win against Andorra in June 2025.
- Alexander-Arnold’s England future looked bleak under Tuchel, who preferred to select injury-prone players and central defenders ahead of him over the last 15 months, but he is back in the fold after an impressive start to the season with his club.
- “He was never off the list. He was never non-selectable for us, and it’s his chance to show, come to camp, and be the best version of himself,” Tuchel said at his first media appearance since the World Cup.
- The 24-year-old has started the season well and earned a recall, but Tuchel has also fired a warning to the Chelsea star.
- Journalists were clattering at their typewriters when the second evacuation warning of the day went out on the Tannoy.