The England manager addressed his most controversial squad selections on Friday, defending the omissions of Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw with a clarity that left little room for debate.
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“From day one we were very clear that we are trying to select and build the best possible team, which is not necessarily to select the best 26 most-talented players,” Tuchel said at a Wembley press conference. “Teams win championships. It’s as simple as that.”
The German acknowledged the difficulty of the decisions but refused to show any doubt. “It was a given that from these 55 players we have to leave some extraordinary talents and extraordinary personalities at home. I have no fear over these choices.”
The most eyebrow-raising inclusion is Ivan Toney, who has played just a handful of minutes as a substitute since Euro 2024. The Saudi-based striker has scored 32 goals in 32 league games this season and Tuchel believes he offers something unique off the bench.
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“He ticks some boxes that we wanted. He is a natural finisher, very strong in the air, very good in using his body. He can be a very valuable addition to Harry Kane when we are chasing a goal.”
Tuchel said his goal for the tournament was simple – win it. “The goal is to try to win it and not be shy about it.”
– AFP
Photo: Photo: REUTERS/Toby Melville
