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Tuchel had to ‘clear the air’ with Ivan Toney before World Cup wildcard choice
Thomas Tuchel made Ivan Toney the wildcard selection of his World Cup squad after holding clear-the-air talks with him over his attitude. The England head coach also considered how Harry Kane likes to play alongside Toney before making the Al-Ahli striker the most eye-catching inclusion of his 26-man party for the tournament.
TL;DR
- Ivan Toney was selected as a wildcard for the World Cup squad after clear-the-air talks with coach Thomas Tuchel.
- Tuchel considered Harry Kane's preference for playing alongside Toney.
- Cole Palmer was excluded due to inconsistent performance, and Phil Foden's best position was uncertain.
- Harry Maguire's reaction to his exclusion via social media was described as unnecessary by Tuchel.
- Toney's inclusion was based on his potential impact late in games, set-piece power, and penalty-taking ability.
- Tuchel emphasized unselfishness and collective spirit, referencing a moment after a win against Serbia where unused players trained rigorously.
- The squad selection prioritized balance over simply picking the 26 most talented players.
- Reece James and John Stones' ability to play deep midfield influenced the omission of Adam Wharton.
- Arsenal contingent players will join the squad later for acclimatization in Florida.