Related Articles
Jude Bellingham has been left out of the England squad for the upcoming international fixtures in October, with Wales set to face the Three Lions at Wembley
Jude Bellingham was a notable absentee from Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for upcoming matches against Wales and Latvia.
The consecutive Euros finalists take on Craig Bellamy’s men in a Wembley friendly next Thursday before resuming World Cup qualifying away to Latvia five days later.
Bellingham was absent from September’s camp following shoulder surgery and has subsequently featured in four fixtures for Real Madrid.
However, Tuchel has excluded the 22-year-old from his 24-man squad for this month’s fixtures, merely two days after being declared 2024/25 England men’s senior player of the year.
Bukayo Saka has rejoined the squad after being absent from September’s internationals due to a hamstring problem, though Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke and Tino Livramento are ruled out through injury.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s hopes of a recall were dashed by his own fitness concern, while Tuchel has once more ignored Jack Grealish and Phil Foden.
John Stones is selected after withdrawing from last month’s squad with a minor problem, but Adam Wharton has not been recalled having pulled out of September’s squad.
Elliot Anderson and Djed Spence have kept their spots after earning their debuts, alongside Ruben Loftus-Cheek and uncapped Jarell Quansah following their call-ups.
England manager Tuchel said: “It was only three weeks since the last camp and the last win, the last performance, so the question was why not bring the same group in because they set the standard.
“Now it is about creating habits out of it. We have unfortunately two injuries at the moment with Tino and Noni and we bring of course Bukayo Saka in to replace Noni.
“Jarell Quansah was a late call-up last time, he will stay in camp.”
Bellamy, who will be without Leeds United winger Daniel James, said of the upcoming date in the English capital: “The rivalry is not for me. I’ve grown up in England. I have full respect for how they support their athletes. Always have done.
“My football education has been in England so I’m beyond grateful for what England has given me. Massively grateful.
“I just see it as a top nation. They got to two finals in a row with the Euros. This is a team that when they go to tournaments they’re looking to win it. I believe it’s only a matter of time. I thought it would have happened before now, but it’s still a matter of time.
“We get the opportunity to go and play at top manager and a top nation.
“But our biggest rivals are ourselves. Who we are. It’s us against us. It always is. What’s the version we want to carry?
“Who are the people we represent?
“That’s our identity. We have to show that in every single game. How we work without the ball. How we get back in numbers. How we show our personality when we have the ball.
“That’s who we want to be. That’s the team I want to coach. That’s what I’m more concerned on than a rivalry. I don’t buy into that, and I’ve never looked at it that way.
“I just see them as a top, top nation that gives us, hopefully, the best opportunity to be the best version of ourselves.”
England squad
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester City)
Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (AC Milan), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona, loan from Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
Source link
