Tuchel's tactical puzzle: Five England stars withdraw from Nations League squad

26.09.26 14:45 UEFA Nations League A

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Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice is one of five senior internationals to withdraw from Thomas Tuchel’s England national team squad ahead of their upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures, according to The Sun.

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Multiple absences hit the Three Lions

Tuchel’s preparations have been significantly disrupted by a wave of fitness concerns. Alongside Rice, England have lost Chelsea playmaker Cole Palmer, Newcastle United full-back Tino Livramento and Manchester United duo Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford.

According to reports, the withdrawals are primarily driven by underlying injury issues, though Rice’s absence has been specifically attributed to load management.

To address the depleted squad, Tuchel has handed late call-ups to Everton midfielder James Garner and Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White. Both players are scheduled to report to St George’s Park on Tuesday morning to join the rest of the traveling contingent.

Managing Rice's workload after 2026 World Cup

The decision to grant Rice a rest follows an intense international cycle. The 27 year old was an indispensable figure during England’s run to third place at the 2026 World Cup, the nation's highest finish at the tournament since winning the trophy in 1966.

Rice started nearly every fixture during the tournament, missing only the final group-stage match against Panama, taking his total international tally to 80 caps. Given his relentless schedule for both club and country over the past two seasons, the England medical staff opted against risking the midfielder during the upcoming international window.

A major midfield test for Tuchel

Losing five established players presents Tuchel with an immediate tactical puzzle. The simultaneous absence of Rice and Mainoo strips England of their preferred central midfield pairing while the omissions of Palmer and Rashford remove considerable goal threat and directness in the final third.

However, this disruption creates a significant platform for Garner and Gibbs-White. Both players now have a realistic opportunity to prove they can operate at the highest international level and offer viable long-term depth ahead of major competitive fixtures.

England enter a demanding four match UEFA Nations League schedule. The Three Lions host European champions Spain at Wembley Stadium on Saturday before travelling to Prague to face the Czech Republic on Tuesday.

Tuchel’s side will then conclude their campaign in early October, heading to Rijeka to play Croatia on 3 October before returning to London for the reverse fixture against the Czech Republic on 6 October.

Khaled Hegazy |

Editorar, en

Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.

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