Thomas Tuchel warns England’s army of talented playmakers that some will watch World Cup on sofa after blasting Foden
THOMAS TUCHEL told his army of talented playmakers that some of them will be watching the World Cup from their sofas.
The new England boss has more candidates for No 10 than a voter at a general election.
Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Morgan Gibbs-White are all vying to play as central attacking midfielders.
But Tuchel has warned that some of them will not be going to the United States next summer because he must select the most well- balanced squad rather than simply picking all of his best players.
The England boss claims that Real Madrid Galactico Bellingham, 21, and Manchester City’s 24-year-old Foden can play in the same team, despite plenty of evidence to the contrary.
Chelsea talisman Palmer is out injured but is also a world-class No 10, while fellow 22-year-old Rogers — who plays in that role for Champions League quarter-finalists Aston Villa — is expected to start on the wing against Latvia on Monday.
And Gibbs-White, 25, who replaced Palmer in the squad for Friday night’s 2-0 win over Albania has been outstanding in that position for high-flying Nottingham Forest.
But Tuchel said: “Some No 10s simply cannot play. We have to get the process right to find the best group. If that means we leave very good and talented players out of the squad this can happen.
“We need to get the team right because it’s one thing to play qualifiers, it’s another thing to play tournament football.”
Tuchel seems committed to Bellingham as his first-choice No 10, after predecessor Gareth Southgate frequently shunted him on to the left flank to accommodate Foden.
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In the autumn interim boss Lee Carsley selected Bellingham, Foden and Palmer in the same unorthodox starting line-up and it backfired badly as the Three Lions suffered an embarrassing 2-1 Nations League home defeat by Greece.
Carsley also employed City’s Jack Grealish, predominantly a winger, as a No 10 during his six-match reign last autumn but Tuchel has left out the 29-year-old due to a lack of game-time with his club.
Tuchel admits Foden has rarely produced his club form in a 44-cap England career.
He said: “Phil would prefer to play No 10, maybe it would suit him more.
“We also have Rogers who’s very impressive. We also have Palmer.
“The players have to take what they get. Phil can play on the wing, as a nine in the middle of the pitch.
“He is just missing what these creative players sometimes are missing — confidence and the flow.
“He’s trying hard, you see his investment in defensive actions.
“It’s just not really happening. You sometimes see it in the clubs, it’s not only here with England.”
But asked whether Bellingham and Foden can play well in tandem, Tuchel answered: “One hundred per cent, they can play together.
“Phil’s numbers are unbelievably good for Man City. They are not so good for the national team, so we need to try to build something to see the Phil Foden from Man City.”
Tuchel was surprised his public criticism of Foden and Marcus Rashford attracted so much attention.
He said: “We try to be honest. But nothing I say in public is something they haven’t heard from me before.
“Sometimes I’m surprised with what people try to make out of it, that Marcus and Phil should be offended. I don’t see it.”