Cole Palmer and Phil Foden were among a number of high-profile names excluded by Thomas Tuchel from England’s World Cup squad on Friday.

Real Madrid’s Trent Alexander-Arnold was also left out, with Saudi-based Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney the surprise inclusion.

Tuchel, a Champions League winner during his time at Chelsea, has been hired to end England’s 60-year wait to win a major international tournament.

The former Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich boss has made a series of bold calls which will be harshly judged if the Three Lions fall short of glory in the coming weeks.

Foden and Palmer played a major role in England’s run to the final of Euro 2024.

However, Manchester City’s Foden and Chelsea playmaker Palmer have paid the price for poor seasons with their clubs.

Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White and Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin have also been overlooked despite being two of the highest-scoring Englishmen in the Premier League this season.

Veteran Brentford midfielder and former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has been included at the expense of Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire said on Thursday he was shocked at not being included.

“I was confident I could (have) played a major part this summer for my country after the season I’ve had,” the 33-year-old posted on social media.

“I’ve been left shocked and gutted by the decision.”

Maguire’s Manchester United team-mate Luke Shaw has also been overlooked.

Tuchel has taken a risk on centre-back John Stones despite his lack of involvement at Manchester City during an injury-hit season.

Toney made an impact off the bench at the Euros two years ago, but has played only two minutes of international football since after moving to Saudi Arabia in 2024.

England kick off their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Dallas on June 17, before playing Ghana on June 23 and Panama four days later.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), James Trafford (Manchester City)

Defenders: Reece James (Chelsea), Tino Livramento, Dan Burn (Newcastle), Marc Guehi, John Stones, Nico O’Reilly (all Manchester City), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham)

Midfielders: Declan Rice (Arsenal), Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal)

Forwards: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle)

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The end of an era: After a trophy-laden decade at the Etihad, Pep Guardiola will step down as Manchester City manager at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.

Pep Guardiola has officially confirmed that his tenure at the helm of Manchester City is drawing to end. Despite having one year remaining on his current deal, the tactician will bring his time at the Etihad Stadium to an end this weekend.

While the manager was clearly irked by the premature leak of the news, the long-standing rumours have finally been proven accurate. Speculation will inevitably swirl over whether his decision might have differed had his side not faltered last Tuesday at the Vitality Stadium against Bournemouth—a result that mathematically crowned Arsenal champions with one matchday to spare.

For much of the campaign, it appeared the ‘Sky Blues’ were on course to repeat the heroics of the previous two seasons, where they mounted relentless late surges to thwart Mikel Arteta. Ultimately, however, City displayed uncharacteristic defensive frailties, dropping points at the final hurdle against Everton and Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth. This Sunday, Guardiola will bid an emotional farewell to the supporters he has served for a decade in the season finale against Aston Villa.

The highly decorated Spanish coach departs with the consolation of the FA Cup—perhaps the domestic trophy he dominated the least, yet one he still secured three times. He also bows out with five EFL Cups, his second-most frequent piece of silverware behind the Premier League, a competition he ruled with an iron grip for many years.

20 trophies and the ultimate prize: the Champions League

Guardiola’s remarkable stint at Manchester City will conclude after a total of 592 matches. Arriving in 2016 following three successful years at Bayern Munich, he was effectively handed the keys to the Etihad project. It is difficult to imagine him finding a more tailored environment elsewhere, leading many to suggest his future may lie in the international arena. In a decade of dominance, he secured 20 titles, including six Premier League crowns, three Community Shields, a Club World Cup, a UEFA Super Cup, and the long-awaited Champions League.

In 2023, after years of investment and tactical refinement, City finally reached the European summit by defeating Inter Milan, thanks to a clinical strike from Ballon d’Or winner Rodri Hernandez. It was the crowning moment of a perfect year, completing a historic treble that eventually expanded into a sextuple. It is perhaps fitting that Pep departs now, feeling his masterpiece, capped by that European glory, is finally complete.

Even without a final Premier League title to his name, Guardiola departs having claimed further silverware, marking the definitive end of a cycle in English football. The beginning of the end was the departure of Jurgen Klopp, his great rival and friend, from Liverpool in 2024. Now, Manchester City loses the most influential figure of the 21st-century game. As one of football’s greatest chapters closes, the world waits to see what the future holds for the Catalan genius.

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Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as his Al Nassr team beat Damac 4-1 Thursday to earn the Portugal star his first Saudi Pro League title since moving to the league in January of 2023.

It’s the club’s 11th league title, but first since Ronaldo joined as Al Nassr finished two points ahead of rivals Al Hilal to clinch the crown on the last matchday of the season.

Having missed the chance to wrap up the domestic championship last week following a stoppage-time blunder from Brazil keeper Bento which resulted in a 1-1 draw with Al Hilal, Al Nassr then slipped to a shock home defeat to Gamba Osaka in the AFC Champions League Two final last weekend.

Jorge Jesus’ side, though, eventually got the job done against strugglers Damac at the King Saud University Stadium, with former Liverpool winger Sadio Mané, who also scored, and former Atlético Madrid and Chelsea forward João Félix playing alongside Ronaldo on Thursday.

Mané opened the scoring for Al Nassr late in the first half and Kingsley Coman scored just after the break before Ronaldo added his two goals to seal the title.

Ronaldo has already scored over 100 goals for the club in his three seasons in Saudi Arabia having joined the SPL after his second stint at Manchester United.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has now won domestic league titles in Portugal, England, Spain, Italy and Saudi Arabia and will compete with Portugal at the 2026 World Cup, his sixth appearance in the soccer world’s biggest tournament.

Ronaldo’s only other trophy with Al Nassr was the Arab Club Champions Cup in 2023, but that is not a FIFA-sanctioned title.

espn.com