Tuchel excludes Bellingham, Foden and Grealish from England WC qualifier

England manager Thomas Tuchel has explained the omissions of Jude Bellingham, Jack Grealish, and Phil Foden from the squad for the upcoming matches against Wales and Latvia, citing Bellingham's lack of match fitness after surgery and a desire to maintain squad continuity as primary reasons, while dismissing any speculation of personal issues with the players.

Regarding Jude Bellingham, Tuchel clarified that the decision was due to his recent return from a shoulder injury and limited game time at Real Madrid, noting that Bellingham has not completed a full match since his recovery. Despite Bellingham's eagerness to be called up and a positive phone conversation, Tuchel emphasized that the midfielder simply lacks rhythm, confirming there were no underlying problems.

For Jack Grealish and Phil Foden, Tuchel stressed that their exclusion was not a reflection on their abilities but a result of the previous squad's success, particularly England's 5-0 win against Serbia. He reiterated that there are no personal issues with either player, describing them as "very special players," and the choice was influenced by the desire to build on the team's recent performance.

Tuchel outlined his selection philosophy, which focuses on rewarding the players from the last match to foster stability and momentum within the group. He described it as a straightforward decision to invite the same squad, with the only notable change being Bukayo Saka's return from injury, aiming to continue the progress made in the previous international break.

While acknowledging that England is stronger with a fully fit Bellingham, Tuchel expressed confidence in the current squad for the friendly against Wales and the World Cup qualifier in Latvia. He emphasized that the door remains open for all players, but this selection was specifically chosen to capitalize on the existing team dynamics and recent successes.