Thomas Tuchel has announced England's squad for the September and October Nations League fixtures after their gut‑wrenching World Cup semi‑final exit to Argentina and third‑place finish
Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo
Harry Maguire has been left out of the England squad, while Kobbie Mainoo has been selected
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Harry Maguire has missed out on the England squad, while Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford have been named in Thomas Tuchel's group for the September and October internationals. Manchester City have three players included - Nico O'Reilly, Marc Guehi and Elliot Anderson, unsurprising given the trio's involvement in the Three Lions’ World Cup campaign.
England will contest their Nations League group‑stage fixtures against Spain, the Czech Republic twice and Croatia in the extended three-week international break which begins next week.
Maguire was unexpectedly left out of England's 2026 World Cup squad, a decision that surprised supporters and the player himself. Tuchel informed each player of their fate via individual FaceTime calls, and Maguire felt his club form should have been enough to secure a place in the final 26 travelling to North America.
Rashford was part of England's World Cup squad in the summer after a stellar campaign on loan at Barcelona. Mainoo was also present at the World Cup but was overlooked throughout the tournament, remaining an unused substitute up to the semi‑finals.
He was then omitted entirely as England beat France 6-4 in the third‑place play‑off with Tuchel instead preferred using Reece James as an auxiliary midfielder during the campaign.
Meanwhile, Phil Foden has missed out on a return to the squad. The Manchester City star hasn't featured for England since March, when he played in the friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.
Tuchel has left out the likes of Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney and Noni Madueke as he looks to move away from the pre‑World Cup squad structure and freshen up his options. In contrast, Cole Palmer, Trent Alexander‑Arnold, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Lewis Hall, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Cole Palmer have all returned.
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England's first fixture comes against world champions Spain on September 26 (7:45pm). The Three Lions then face Czechia three days later at the same time, before meeting Croatia on October 3 (5pm) and Czechia again on October 6 (7:45pm).
England's full squad:
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Jason Steele (Brighton), James Trafford (Leeds United).
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Trevoh Chalobah (Como), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Lewis Hall (Newcastle), Ezri Konsa (Arsenal), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen).
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Manchester City), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Alex Scott (Bournemouth).
Forwards: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Morgan Rogers (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal).