Jarrad Branthwaite is one of three Everton players currently away with Thomas Tuchel's England squad
Thomas Tuchel talks to Jarrad Branthwaite during England's Nations League defeat to Spain in September
Thomas Tuchel talks to Jarrad Branthwaite during England's Nations League defeat to Spain in September (Image: (Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images))
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Thomas Tuchel has explained why he snubbed Jarrad Branthwaite in favour of Dan Burn for England’s win over Croatia. Harry Kane celebrated a men's record 126th appearance for the Three Lions with a goal as Morgan Rogers also scored in the 2-1 win at Wembley.
And even though Burn was a late call-up to Tuchel’s squad following Marc Guehi’s withdrawal, he still started at the heart of his side’s defence alongside Jarell Quansah, with Branthwaite forced to watch from the bench. Asked his thinking behind the decision, Tuchel revealed: "Dan came late into the camp and Dan is just Dan. He is a fantastic guy to have, he is always a standard-setter in training.
"And he always lives up to the highest standards in terms of how to socialise on and off the pitch and how to get things going and push everyone. We opted for him, and it was maybe a 51% decision between him and Jarrad.
"We had some changes in the back four. We knew that Dan played in a similar kind of style to go into opponents' half, and a man-man, he played with Lewis Hall and Anthony Gordon and he did it for Eddie Howe in the Champions League.
"It was a similar approach so we thought it could help because we had new faces and new partnerships in the back four we went for him."
But while Branthwaite was an unused substitute, Everton team-mate James Garner came off the bench with 13 minutes of normal time remaining, while Jordan Pickford completed the full 90 minutes.
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Branthwaite will be hoping for game time when England head to Madrid to take on World and European champions Spain in their final game in Group C, although the Three Lions have already qualified for the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals.
Lewis Hall and Jarrad Branthwaite following England's 2-1 win over Croatia at Wembley
Lewis Hall and Jarrad Branthwaite following England's 2-1 win over Croatia at Wembley(Image: (Michael Regan - The FA/The FA via Getty Images))
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While over in Ireland, Seamus Coleman will not feature against Austria in the Republic of Ireland’s penultimate Nations League tie, but he could play against Kosovo next week.
Coleman ended a 17-year playing career with Everton at the end of last season and is currently without a club.
And, as expected, he was not included in the 24-man squad for Ireland’s upcoming Nations League fixtures against Austria and Kosovo.
However, Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson revealed last week that Coleman would join up with the group, taking on a hybrid role that would see him work alongside the management group while also taking part in some of the team’s training schedule.
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Jack Grealish (Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)
Jack Grealish (Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)
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But while he won’t feature in Linz tomorrow night, Hallgrimsson didn't rule out the Everton icon playing against Kosovo in Dublin.
He said: “No, we didn’t expect to include Saamus in the squad today. On Tuesday (against Kosovo) we don’t know the situation. We can maybe answer that after this game.
“We have five players on a yellow so we don’t know how many we will have in the squad. We might need to call in players.”
While speaking earlier this week, Ireland assistant manager John O’Shea praised Coleman’s impact in his new role.
He said: “It’s like what the boss said about it in the sense of it’s us helping Seamus and Seamus helping us, really.
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“I’m sure Dara will tell you himself, but to see the impact he is having and also the quality that remains in his ability and the driving and pushing he’s doing for everyone in the group. It’s been good to see him and not much has changed really.”
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Before he added: “Seamus has obviously spoken about that already, he’s had a few little approaches and conversations with clubs and different things, but it just probably hasn’t felt right for him.
“Like Seamus said himself, he knows that decision time is coming, but Seamus has earned a right to make that decision when and where he feels that it’s best for him.”