England’s World Cup campaign ended in heartbreak this summer, with Thomas Tuchel’s side falling 2-1 to Argentina in the semi-finals after dropping deep following an early lead.
The defeat has left the manager facing intense scrutiny over his tactical decisions, and the squad, in his own words, carrying a scar that will take time to heal.
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What made the run even more notable, according to the Telegraph, was the complete absence of a single Liverpool player named in Tuchel’s matchday squads throughout the tournament.
For a club that has produced some of England’s most important internationals in recent years, it was a striking omission, and one that has fuelled plenty of debate about the pipeline between Anfield and the national team.
That could be about to change.
The Telegraph reports that Tuchel is already looking ahead to the next European Championship, and Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha is firmly in his plans.
The 17 year old was part of England’s pre-World Cup training camp in Florida last month, where he impressed Tuchel and the coaching staff enough to earn a cap against New Zealand, despite initially being called up purely as a training player.
Ngumoha’s rise has been rapid.
After a difficult and widely reported switch from Chelsea’s academy to Liverpool, he signed his first professional contract with the Reds in September 2024 and quickly became a breakout figure under Arne Slot.
He announced himself with a dramatic late winner against Newcastle United in August, and followed it up with further eye catching displays, including a impressive outing against Fulham in April that yielded a goal and a strong match rating.
In total, he made 19 Premier League appearances during the season, along with outings in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and a Champions League substitute appearance against Paris Saint Germain.
According to the Telegraph, senior England players privately encouraged Ngumoha during the World Cup camp, leaving him with the impression that a return to the squad is very much expected.
Jude Bellingham was even said to have presented him with his cap after the New Zealand match.
Much now depends on regular game time.
Ngumoha was not one of Slot’s guaranteed starters last season, a situation that reportedly caught the attention of clubs elsewhere in Europe, including Bayern Munich, before their interest cooled.
Tuchel is expected to monitor closely how the teenager fares under incoming Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, who has a track record of trusting young talent from his time at Bournemouth.
With Anthony Gordon and Marcus Rashford having occupied the left wing role during the World Cup, opportunities will not come easily, but Tuchel has made clear his door remains open to youth, insisting he is building a squad capable of closing the gap on the world’s leading nations before Euro 2028.