England Squad: Tuchel Recalls Alexander-Arnold and Palmer, Omits Foden

The Return of Palmer and Alexander-Arnold

Cole Palmer returns to the international fold after missing out on the previous World Cup due to a combination of injuries and a dip in form at club level with Chelsea. The attacker last featured for his country in March 2026. His absence during the global tournament sparked intense debate across English media regarding the team’s creative output in the final third. Palmer later addressed the omission publicly, stating that he felt he could have offered a different dimension to the squad and adding that being told a player is not good enough serves as primary motivation to prove doubters wrong. Having started the club season strongly with two goals and two assists, Palmer steps back into the national setup with an immediate opportunity to stake his claim.

Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold rejoins the squad following a much longer absence. The Real Madrid full-back had not featured for the Three Lions since June 2025.

Notable Omissions and Squad Dynamics

While veterans return, several high-profile names remain absent from Tuchel’s latest selection. Alongside Phil Foden, the squad list excludes Morgan Gibbs-White, Harry Maguire, Noni Madueke, Reece James, Ollie Watkins, and Djed Spence. Notably, James, Watkins, Madueke, and Spence were all part of the World Cup squad, underscoring Tuchel’s willingness to reshape his roster aggressively.

The 27-man selection also introduces several fresh faces and youth prospects to the international setup. Arsenal’s versatile 19-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly, Newcastle left-back Lewis Hall (22), Everton central defender Jarrad Branthwaite (24), and Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott (23) all earn inclusion. Additionally, Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha, 18, secures his first official senior call-up. In the attacking third, Dominic Calvert-Lewin earns a spot as the primary deputy to captain Harry Kane following a prolific start to the domestic campaign with Leeds.

Upcoming Fixtures and Nations League Schedule

The Three Lions face a demanding block of four international fixtures over the coming weeks. The campaign begins against world champions Spain on September 26 at Wembley Stadium. Following that high-profile encounter, England will face the Czech Republic on September 29, take on Croatia on October 3, and conclude the block by hosting the Czechs on October 6.