FIFA World Cup 2026: Thomas Tuchel to personally call snubbed England footballers

Thomas Tuchel (Pic: File Pic)

England's national football team head coach Thomas Tuchel has promised that he would video call or personally meet every player and explain why they were not selected and how they can improve themselves to make the cut into his FIFA World Cup plans, according to Sky Sports.

"First of all, it's my job now to make contact with everyone, players like Trent (Alexander-Arnold). Players that are on our long list, 55, 60 players, to reach out to them, be in touch with them, explain to them why they were not here. Explain to them what they have to do, where they can improve," he said as quoted by Sky Sports.

"Can they even do something, or is it just a choice, so this is my job in the next weeks and months," added the coach.

Speaking about Jarell Quansah, Tuchel heaped praise on him by saying he is strong in build-up and he is very strong while playing for Liverpool in the right-back position.

"Of course, I have a lot of trust in Jarell. I see his talent, but I see the package. He is tall, he is fast, he is strong in build-up. He is strong in the air. I saw him playing very strong for Liverpool in this position (right-back), so I always wanted to try," said Tuchel.

"And he plays every minute for Leverkusen since the Under-21 Euros, so he is at the moment a tiny bit ahead," added the 52-year-old England coach.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is among the senior names hoping to return, while players like Luke Shaw, Jack Grealish, Harry Maguire and Kyle Walker are also waiting for a call.

Danny Welbeck, who last featured for England in 2018, is another player pushing strongly for a place in a squad that has mostly remained unchanged through the autumn.

Those currently out of the squad know exactly how tough it will be to force their way in, especially with the kind of praise and confidence Tuchel has repeatedly shown towards the existing England group.

"It hurts me, honestly," he said.

"I told the players 'I have to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year now, I cannot believe it and in my heart, everything in me wants to be with you guys in Wednesday again on the sidelines and fight on Saturday again' and they sucked me into all of this," he noted.

"This is just amazing. It will be very, very tough for me to not have a match until March," he added.

(With ANI Inputs)