LONDON, May 23 — Thomas Tuchel said yesterday he has no fears after leaving “extraordinary talents” out of England’s World Cup squad, boldly stating his aim is to win the tournament.

The German coach omitted a clutch of big names for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, including Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Harry Maguire, Adam Wharton, Morgan Gibbs-White and Luke Shaw are others overlooked as Gareth Southgate’s successor made an eye-catching selection.

Saudi-based Ivan Toney was the most surprising pick, having played just a handful of minutes as a substitute since Euro 2024.

England are among the favourites at the World Cup, 60 years after they won their only major international trophy.

Tuchel told a press conference at Wembley that the balance of his squad was more important than picking star names.

“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,” he said.

“Teams win championships, it’s as simple as that.”

The former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain boss admitted he had had to make painful decisions but said he had “no fear” over his choices.

“It was a given that from these 55 players (in the provisional squad), we have to leave some extraordinary talents and extraordinary personalities at home,” he said.

The 52-year-old added: “I like these kind of decisions, even if it took us weeks and sometimes months to verify the decisions.

“I think they bring clarity, I think they bring a certain edge in the end that is necessary.”

‘Brotherhood’ 

Tuchel, appointed with a brief to win the World Cup, said he wanted to create a “brotherhood” and believes England have the world-class players to make a difference.

“The goal is to try to win it and not be shy about it, and then just to respect the game and the opponents and the amount and the obstacles that come with the tournament itself,” he said.

Tuchel admitted the selection of Toney, who plays for Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League, was “a bit of a surprise to us” but said he “ticks some boxes that we wanted”.

The former Brentford striker has scored 32 goals in 32 league games this season.

“I think he has very special skills that could help us, meaning the situation, the scenario when we are chasing a result, when we are chasing a goal,” added Tuchel.

“I think he can be a very valuable addition to Harry Kane. He can be a presence in the box when we are pushing for a goal.

“He is a natural finisher, he can help us with set pieces, he is very strong in the air, very good in using his body.”

England kick off their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Dallas on June 17 with group games to follow against Ghana and Panama. — AFP

LONDON, May 22 — Phil Foden and Cole Palmer are among a number of high-profile names that are set to miss out on Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the World Cup, according to multiple reports today. 

Real Madrid’s Trent Alexander Arnold is also expected to be excluded, with Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney the surprise inclusion.

Foden and Palmer played a major role in the Three Lions’ run to the final of Euro 2024.

However, the BBC and Sky Sports reported that Manchester City’s Foden and Chelsea playmaker Palmer have paid the price for poor seasons with their clubs.

Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White and Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin have also been overlooked despite being two of the highest-scoring Englishmen in the Premier League this season.

Veteran Brentford midfielder Jordan Henderson will reportedly be included at the expense of Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire said yesterday he was shocked at not being included.

“I was confident I could (have) played a major part this summer for my country after the season I’ve had,” the 33-year-old posted on social media.

“I’ve been left shocked and gutted by the decision.” — AFP

PARIS, May 21 — With the start of the 2026 World Cup in North America now barely three weeks away, AFP Sport runs the rule over the leading contenders at the first-ever 48-team finals (world ranking in brackets):

France (1)

Les Bleus have won the World Cup twice and lost two finals on penalties in the last seven editions. This will be their last tournament before long-serving coach Didier Deschamps steps down. “It’s a strange feeling,” admitted Deschamps, in charge since 2012.

France beat Brazil 2-1 in March and then defeated Colombia 3-1 with an entirely different starting line-up, with those games both played in the US. Unbeaten in nine matches since last June, France have a fearsome attack featuring reigning Ballon d’Or Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise and Rayan Cherki. They will take some stopping.

Spain (2)

The European champions have not lost since winning Euro 2024. Luis de la Fuente’s team are a perfectly-oiled machine in which the standout player is teenage superstar Lamine Yamal. But the 18-year-old Barcelona winger is currently out with a hamstring injury, and reports suggest he might miss their first two group games.

His Barcelona teammate Fermin Lopez is set to miss out entirely with a foot fracture. Arsenal’s Mikel Merino, scorer of eight goals for Spain in 10 games in 2025, has not played since January due to injury. But La Roja still boast fearsome quality — think 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, or Pedri.

Argentina (3)

Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina are dreaming of retaining the title they won in 2022. That tournament marked Lionel Messi’s crowning glory, and it is hard to see how he can hit the same heights again given he turns 39 next month.

Nevertheless, Messi is very much at home in the US now and has 12 goals in 13 MLS games for Inter Miami this year.

Argentina also won the 2024 Copa America in the USA and comfortably topped South American qualifying. Beyond Messi they boast a wealth of attacking talent, including Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez, and Nico Paz, the Tenerife-born attacking midfielder with Como.

England (4)

After several near misses under Gareth Southgate, with agonising defeats in the finals of the last two Euros and exits from the 2018 World Cup in the semi-finals and the 2022 quarters, England now hope German Thomas Tuchel can deliver a first title since 1966.

England cruised through qualifying and have formidable depth but there are some doubts. They drew with Uruguay and lost to Japan in March friendlies, while big names like Jude Bellingham and Cole Palmer have not had straightforward campaigns. However, they will hope Harry Kane continues the remarkable form he has shown with Bayern Munich, for whom he has 58 goals this season.

Portugal (5)

Portugal, who have never gone beyond the semi-finals, are serious candidates — provided they are not held back by the possibly overbearing presence of Cristiano Ronaldo.

At 41, this will be his sixth World Cup, but the quality of their midfield — Vitinha, Joao Neves, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes — could be the key.

Uefa Nations League winners last year, Portugal stumbled a little in qualifying, losing in Ireland as Ronaldo was sent off. Ronaldo did not play in their last game, a 2-0 friendly win over the USA in Atlanta.

Brazil (6)

Brazil’s progress under new coach Carlo Ancelotti will be fascinating to watch. That the Selecao felt it necessary to turn to an Italian says much about Brazil’s ongoing footballing identity crisis, and their current lack of depth has been exposed by Ancelotti’s decision to name Neymar in his squad.

Now 34 and playing for Santos, Neymar has not been capped since 2023, and Vinicius Junior is Brazil’s attacking leader now.

Since winning their fifth title in 2002, Brazil have only reached the semi-finals once, when they were humiliated 7-1 by Germany as hosts in 2014. They finished fifth in South American qualifying, losing six of 18 games.

“The World Cup won’t be won by a perfect team — because a perfect team doesn’t exist,” insists Ancelotti. “It will be won by the most resilient team.”

Germany (10)

Julian Nagelsmann’s side sit behind the Netherlands, Morocco and Belgium in the rankings and it seems a stretch to suggest Germany could win a first World Cup since 2014.

They suffered group-stage exits in 2018 and 2022, and lost in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals as hosts. However, the class of Joshua Kimmich, Florian Wirtz and Kai Havertz ensure Germany should be taken seriously. — AFP