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Tuchel's England Squad Shakeup: Maguire, Mainoo In, Alexander-Arnold Out

England head coach Thomas Tuchel has announced a 35-man squad for the final pre-World Cup friendlies against Uruguay and Japan. The squad sees notable exclusions in Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ollie Watkins, and Luke Shaw, while Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo earn their first call-ups under the new manager. Tuchel acknowledged the difficulty of leaving out key players, stating such decisions are part of the job. The squad will be managed in two groups for the matches to balance the demands of the international break with the domestic schedule.

Key Points: England Squad for Uruguay, Japan Friendlies Announced by Tuchel

  • Trent Alexander-Arnold shock exclusion
  • Harry Maguire & Kobbie Mainoo first call-ups under Tuchel
  • Final squad assessment before FIFA World Cup 2026
  • Two friendlies at Wembley vs Uruguay & Japan
  • Squad split for first match to manage player load
2 min read

England name squad for friendlies against Uruguay, Japan ahead of World Cup

Thomas Tuchel names England squad for World Cup warm-ups. Harry Maguire & Kobbie Mainoo get call-ups, but Trent Alexander-Arnold is a shock exclusion.

"I know it's a tough decision for Trent as it is for Ollie Watkins and Luke Shaw. These tough decisions come with the job. - Thomas Tuchel"

London, March 20

England football team head coach Thomas Tuchel has named the squad for their upcoming friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, according to Sky Sports. Trent Alexander-Arnold was the notable exclusion from England's 35-man squad, while Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo received their first call-ups under Thomas Tuchel.

With this being England's last camp before the FIFA World Cup 2026, it's Tuchel's final chance to assess his players before naming a squad for the showpiece event. England will play against Uruguay on March 27 before facing Japan on March 31 at Wembley Stadium in London.

Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins also misses out despite Tuchel naming 10 forwards. Leeds' Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Tottenham's Dominic Solanke are the strikers called up, along with Harry Kane.

Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo are the Manchester United players Tuchel has called up, but Luke Shaw has been omitted from the England squad.

Speaking on the exclusions of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ollie Watkins and Luke Shaw, Tuchel said, "I know it's a tough decision for Trent as it is for Ollie Watkins and Luke Shaw. These tough decisions come with the job," as quoted by Sky Sports.

For the first friendly against Uruguay, only 24 players from Tuchel's squad will report, with the remaining 11 joining later ahead of the Japan match, as the manager seeks to manage squad demands alongside a demanding domestic schedule.

Full England squad list

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson, Jordan Pickford, James Trafford, Aaron Ramsdale, Jason Steele.

Defenders: Dan Burn, Marc Guehi, Lewis Hall, Ezri Konsa, Tino Livramento, Harry Maguire, Nico O'Reilly, Jarell Quansah, Djed Spence, John Stones, Fikayo Tomori.

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, James Garner, Jordan Henderson, Kobbie Mainoo, Declan Rice, Morgan Rogers, Adam Wharton.

Forwards: Jarrod Bowen, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Eberechi Eze, Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Dominic Solanke.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
As an Indian football fan, I always watch England's squad announcements with interest. They have such depth! No Watkins is surprising after his season. But Calvert-Lewin and Solanke deserve their chances. Hope they use these friendlies to gel properly. The Uruguay match will be a real test! 🇺🇾⚽
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Arjun K
Maguire getting a call-up again? Seriously? I know he's experienced, but his form has been up and down. There are younger, faster defenders available. Tuchel is playing it too safe here. With all respect to the manager, this feels like a step backwards when you should be building for the future.
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Sarah B
The midfield looks exciting with Bellingham, Rice, and now Mainoo. That's a great blend of energy and skill. Shame about Luke Shaw, he's a reliable option at left-back when fit. Managing the squad in two batches for the friendlies is smart with the club schedule so packed.
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Vikram M
Good to see players from clubs like Aston Villa and Newcastle getting recognition, not just the traditional 'Big Six'. The forward line is absolutely stacked – Saka, Foden, Kane, Palmer. England should be one of the favourites for the 2026 World Cup, no doubt. Let's see if they can handle the pressure this time!
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Karthik V
Watching from India, I just hope they give young players like Mainoo and Wharton proper minutes. These friendlies are for experimentation. Japan is a very technical team, so that will be a fascinating tactical battle for Tuchel. Wembley will be buzzing!

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