England manager, Thomas Tuchel, has said he is “not angry” with the eight players who withdrew from the squad ahead of Tuesday’s friendly against Japan. The match marked the final England camp before the May 30 deadline for naming World Cup squads. “We have players in camp that have already played more minutes than last season, so there is some concern. Despite the withdrawals, Tuchel praised the commitment of the squad, highlighting the players who stayed behind to continue injury treatment. Tuchel emphasized the need to reconnect with team principles ahead of the World Cup.

Source: Punch March 30, 2026 16:05 UTC