BELGRADE: England manager Thomas Tuchel insisted he was ‘brave’ enough to leave out several key players after his reserves thrashed Serbia 5-0 in a World Cup qualifier.
Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer are sidelined through injury while Trent Alexander-Arnold and Phil Foden are not listed.
In contrast, players such as Morgan Rogers, Noni Madueke and Anthony Gordon shone in a resounding victory in Belgrade that almost certainly secured England’s place at the 2026 World Cup in the United States.
Asked if he was willing to leave out the key player who missed Tuesday’s game, Tuchel replied:
“I’m always brave, you know that. I don’t want to talk about names of people who might be left out. Let’s see who’s fit and ready.”
“But I think we’ve made some brave decisions. We’ve brought in a smaller squad to make sure the competition stays open.
“The competition is always there. If you get called to camp, you have to show the best attitude, the best performance, the best physical shape. It’s a privilege to be here and fight for your spot.”
Tuchel also stressed that the England squad is not dependent on one or two star players, even though Bellingham was not fit ahead of the World Cup.
He referred to past experiences when injuries to David Beckham and Wayne Rooney once made England fans hope for a miracle before a major tournament.
“There was no negativity after a mistake, no frustration, no taunts, no abusive language. It was just a team that was ready to work and put in the full 90 minutes.
“The victory over Serbia was a team effort. All the players have the quality and determination to play for their country. If a big star misses the tournament, we need to have a solution.
“We must focus on the players we have and prepare them to be the best versions of themselves, as well as the best teammates. That’s what we do,” he said.