Tuchel’s ruthless England reset

Welcome back to The High Ground — today, we’re diving into Thomas Tuchel’s England revolution. The German manager has shaken the foundations of the national team just months before the World Cup, dropping some of England’s brightest names in a bid to build something colder, harder, and more cohesive.

Tuchel didn’t just tweak England’s squad — he tore up the hierarchy.
When he said, “We are not collecting the most talented players. We are trying to build a team,” he wasn’t sending a message to the press. He was sending one to the dressing room.

England has been here before — built around superstars who never quite clicked. Tuchel’s solution is brutal simplicity: trust the ones who follow orders, not the ones who make headlines.

And now, the fallout has begun.

For months, Jude Bellingham has been untouchable. Real Madrid’s engine. England’s golden boy. But for Tuchel, that wasn’t enough. Despite being fit again and back in rhythm, the 22-year-old was left out of October’s squad.

Tuchel called it “continuity.” The truth? He’s testing loyalty over reputation.

Bellingham’s absence felt symbolic — a warning that not even England’s most gifted midfielder is immune from the system.

Few players divide England fans like Phil Foden. A generational talent at Manchester City, yet somehow always peripheral for his country.

Tuchel’s kept him out since March, claiming others are “in full rhythm.” That’s management code for: I don’t trust you yet.

It’s not ability that’s in question — it’s fit. Foden thrives in chaos; Tuchel builds around order. And right now, there’s no space for improvisation in England’s blueprint.

Jack Grealish is finally playing free football again — five goal contributions in seven games for Everton — and yet, he’s still frozen out.

The winger’s told the media he “understands” Tuchel’s decision, but privately, this must sting. For a player who’s always worn emotion on his sleeve, being replaced by the likes of Eberechi Eze and Anthony Gordon sends a clear message: personality doesn’t trump performance.

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Cole Palmer’s England career has been a victim of timing. His talent is unquestioned, but injuries have left him a ghost in Tuchel’s plans.

He’s played just 65 minutes under the German, all against Andorra in June. If he misses the next international window, he could miss the World Cup entirely.

Tuchel put it bluntly: “He has the potential to decide matches, but reality matters — and the reality is he wasn’t available.”

Kobbie Mainoo. Adam Wharton. Trent Alexander-Arnold. Myles Lewis-Skelly. Each of them once tipped to be part of England’s future — each of them now on the outside looking in.

Tuchel has gone all-in on cohesion. He’d rather build chemistry with what he has than risk chaos by reintegrating outliers. For players like Mainoo, who’ve fallen out of rhythm at club level, that’s a death sentence for now.

Tuchel’s made England more pragmatic, more stable — and maybe more boring. But maybe boring wins. Maybe predictability is what England’s needed all along.

Still, history suggests danger in uniformity. Drop too many stars, and you lose what makes England special. Hold on too long to the same squad, and the spark fades.

Tuchel’s trying to build a machine, not a mixtape. The only question is whether that machine can feel pressure — or fold under it.

High Ground takeaway: Thomas Tuchel isn’t building a team to entertain — he’s building one to survive. England’s biggest names are learning the hard way that reputation means nothing under his rule.

If it works, England will be the most disciplined side at the 2026 World Cup.
If it fails, it’ll be remembered as the moment England’s golden generation finally broke under the weight of “system over soul.”

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