"We are not gathering the most talented players, we are trying to build a team. The team won the cup, not anyone else" - said England coach Thomas Tuchel.
If anyone is still wondering whether Tuchel will continue his policy of selecting underrated players as the 2026 World Cup is approaching, then the sharp words before the win over Wales have partly confirmed that.
During the German strategist's tenure, Tuchel has faced a lot of criticism surrounding who deserves to be in the squad. Some promising players were overlooked, while those such as Jordan Henderson and Ruben Loftus-Cheek were unexpectedly called back.
"That's how international football works. What you are saying to me is not entirely true. You guys are speculating. We have built a team with ready players, they have played very well, and we will continue to use them. No one says we can't get the same result, or even better, with other players of the same level," Tuchel explained.
Tuchel's determination to keep the same squad in October, including impressive players during the FIFA Days in September, has led to a lot of controversy. Several of England's top stars were left out, despite only having a few final matches before the "Three Lions" won tickets to the 2026 World Cup in North America.
"We are still steadfast in our choice, and the strongest statement is that we will not gather the most talented players. We gather players with cohesion to create the strongest team.
Because when we go to the World Cup, we have to be a strong team. We will come to the tournament as a team that is not highly rated, because we have not won the championship for decades, and have to face teams that have been crowned many times. Therefore, we have to come as a team, otherwise the opportunity will never appear" - Tuchel affirmed.
This is a strong warning to the stars considered the most talented of the England team at the moment.
Tuchel is determined to build a strong, cohesive England team capable of competing with the world's top opponents. He focuses on developing talented young players who are aspirational and ready to devote themselves to the national team.
The "Three Lions" are leading Group K of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Europe with 5 wins, 7 points ahead of Albania. In the next match, Tuchel and his team will visit Latvia.
England will try to take advantage against a struggling Latvia. Latvia have only won one qualifying campaign - at home to Andorra.
Ukraine have also won just one of their six games in the 2024 UEFA Nations League. Therefore, Tuchel's team understands that a victory at Riga will officially help them qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
