Thomas Tuchel has recalled Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer to his first England squad since the World Cup, alongside returning midfielder Myles Lewis-Skelly, for a three-week Nations League camp featuring four matches against Spain, the Czech Republic (twice), and Croatia. Phil Foden, Ollie Watkins, and Noni Madueke were among those left out, while Liverpool teenager Rio Ngumoha and Bournemouth’s Alex Scott earned their first senior call-ups.
Two of England’s biggest names are getting a second chance — and Thomas Tuchel wants them to know it isn’t unconditional.
The Headline Returns
Real Madrid right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has been named in an England squad for the first time since June 2025, ending a stretch in which Tuchel consistently preferred injury-prone players and central defenders over him. Chelsea forward Cole Palmer also returns after missing out on the squad that reached the World Cup semifinals before falling to Argentina.
Tuchel didn’t soften the message that comes with the recall.
“It’s an opportunity for Trent of course. He had a good start to the season, I would say,” Tuchel said. “He started some matches for Real Madrid. They have good results and it’s a chance for him to claim what he feels is yours, his place on the right side, so here we go.”
Palmer got a similarly pointed vote of confidence.
“Cole has his starts that he always had, but he has his numbers back, he has assists back, he has decisive goals back. So that’s why he’s in the squad, and I think he has a point to prove,” Tuchel said. “It is one thing to be nominated, by the way, like with Cole and getting your ticket back in the squad, but it’s another thing to perform for England. And this also comes so especially also Cole needs to step up when he comes and needs to show these kind of numbers, and these kind of performances, to get his place, to keep his shirt, and to justify the nomination.”
New Faces and Other Returns
Liverpool teenager Rio Ngumoha and uncapped Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott earned their first proper senior call-ups, both having been part of the pre-tournament training group in Florida. Ngumoha impressed on his debut against New Zealand in June.
Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, whose only prior cap came in 2024, received his first call-up under Tuchel. Lewis Hall, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin also return to the fold.
Not everyone got the same news. Phil Foden, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Adam Wharton were among those left out of the recall list, while World Cup squad members Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney, and Noni Madueke were dropped entirely.
Tuchel framed the selections, in both directions, as a matter of merit rather than reputation.
“The door is always open through performance… behaviour and commitment to the team spirit,” he said of players who missed out.
A Reward Years in the Making for Mainoo
Manchester United‘s Kobbie Mainoo retains his place despite not playing a single minute at the World Cup, where Tuchel opted for veteran Jordan Henderson and converted right-back Reece James in central midfield instead. This time, Tuchel says that’s changing.
“I expect him to be on the pitch, and it’s my duty to put him on the pitch,” Tuchel said. “That was totally on me. He didn’t put a foot wrong in the World Cup. He was class in behaviour and on the training pitch. It was a big competition. We also played Reece in central midfield. Elliot Anderson is fantastic for us. Declan Rice is a very unique player, so we trusted them more than we trusted Kobbie. It was difficult for him. It was on me. He got injured before the France game, so we could not even give him minutes there, which hurt me. Maybe he was more hurt than me, but it was my responsibility, and it’s my responsibility to reward him for that.”
The Fixtures
England, fresh off a bronze-medal finish at the World Cup, open their Nations League campaign against world champions Spain at Wembley on September 26. Three days later, they travel to Prague to face the Czech Republic. The camp continues with a trip to Croatia — a team England beat in the group stage of the World Cup — on October 3, before wrapping up back at Wembley against the Czech Republic again on October 6.
The Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Jason Steele (Brighton), James Trafford (Leeds)
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), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Morgan Rogers (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
