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By IAN LADYMAN Published: 22: 02 AEST, 23 May 2025 | Updated: 22: 25 AEST, 23 May 2025 4 View comments With a little over a year to go ahead of a World Cup Thomas Tuchel has been hired to win, it was heartening to hear him draw a line in the sand in term of how he will approach matters of club versus country. In terms of some of his actual selections, the England manager's logic is not always quite as easy to follow. Tuchel admitted at a morning press conference at Wembley that he had considered leaving those players involved in next month's Club World Cup out of the squad for a qualifier against Andorra and a friendly against Senegal at the start of June. Both of these games could – and probably would - be won without Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer and others. Nevertheless, they will be with England and will stay with England throughout the forthcoming camp. That is entirely right. It is not Tuchel's fault that the calendar continues to be crammed with more and more club football. International football has to be played at some stage and Tuchel only has five camps between now and his own World Cup 2026 in America. 'We will start camp with 26 players and finish camp with the same 26 players, ' Tuchel said. 'That's the decision. I can see the argument for some players to leave early and to maybe change the squad or even nominate a squad without World Club Cup players. Thomas Tuchel has ended the club versus country debate with his latest England squad The likes of Harry Kane have been called up to the squad despite being set to play in the Club World Cup Jude Bellingham - who will also play in the tournament and needs surgery - is also included 'The decision was open in all directions and it was discussed. But very quickly we realised it's one of five camps and only one year to go. Why send players away who we want to worship and cherish every day we are together? What signal would that send to the group to send players away? 'I can see the argument of the clubs who would love to see their players have a bit of a rest but we have a strong argument for ourselves and for our goals that we want to reach. We want to build a camaraderie and togetherness and that's only possible if we take every game seriously and that's why we keep the group together. 'The players know it and the clubs know it. We will try to manage the minutes of the players of course. ' Tuchel's squad is not without its curiosities. Happily, he has bowed to Phil Foden's request for a rest but it is harder to understand the exclusion of players such as Jarrod Bowen – who was in his first squad – and Crystal Palace's gifted midfielder Adam Wharton, who will be asked to play Under-21 football in this summer's European Championship while Jordan Henderson takes a midfield place with the seniors that already appears set in stone. And then there is Ivan Toney. Now playing his football in Saudi, the former Brentford striker has been handed his first Tuchel call up on the back of his numbers for Al-Ahli after the national coach admitted he has not yet travelled to watch him play live. 'Ivan deserves to be with us, ' said Tuchel. 'I am convinced. He has won a major trophy in the Asian Champions League and has made a huge contribution with his goals and assists. 'I told you I would try to put a visit to Saudi Arabia in my schedule but I didn't make it so why not bring him over and let him travel to us? Ivan Toney have been given a recall despite the England manager not yet seeing him play live Tuchel said Toney has 'won a major trophy in the Asian Champions League and has made a huge contribution' Dominic Solanke, meanwhile, has been left out because 'he has been in camp already' 'This is a good occasion to meet new players and test new players and meet Ivan and see him in the environment. We have nominated three No 9s with Harry Kane and Ollie Watkins. 'Dominic Solanke deserves to be here but he has been in camp already. I know what he can do. Watkins and Toney were both not with us last time so that explains the decision. ' Tuchel's approach to squad selections often appears a little contradictory, on the one hand talking up the merits of building consistency and togetherness and on the other suggesting some players – such as Solanke and Manchester United defender Harry Maguire – have been omitted because he already knows what they can do for him. Ben White has missed another chance for a call up as he is about to become a father for the first time while Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace is not in the squad on medical advice after suffering an injury to his eye in last Saturday's FA Cup Final. In terms of Ajax midfielder Henderson, however, Tuchel remains unequivocal. That particular hill is one that he is clearly prepared to die on. 'If you have training exercises in different groups, the group where Jordan is…you can just turn your back, ' Tuchel said. 'He will take care of all the standards in that group. Jordan is vocal and a natural leader. He has a spark. That's what he is good at. He does it in a very impressive way and is still playing at a decent level. 'I understand the question. But once you meet Jordan and see Jordan and speak to Jordan it's such an obvious choice. Ben White missed out on the chance for a recall because his partner is due to give birth Jordan Henderson remains a part of the squad because it is supposedly in desperate need of leaders 'Your perception is far away from my perception but I understand it. This isn't Adam Wharton versus Jordan Henderson. What Jordan brings to the group, an Under 21 player cannot bring. 'It's impossible in terms of personality and experience. Jordan is more than happy to accept the challenge. He wants to presents, no gifts. ' Quite why an England squad containing players such as Bellingham, Kane, Kyle Walker and Decan Rice is in such desperate need of leaders remains a puzzle. Tuchel, however, would appear to be convinced.

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