England name squad for friendlies against Uruguay, Japan ahead of World Cup
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
Reader Comments
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! 🇺🇾⚽
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.
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.
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!
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!
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.