THOMAS TUCHEL has revealed that he has had “tough” conversations with NINE stars who are set to be sent home.
The England manager has confirmed that there are nine players who are likely to leave the Three Lions camp after the friendly against Uruguay.
England host the South Americans at Wembley on Friday evening in their penultimate match before the World Cup.
Tuchel, 52, called up 35 players for the clash as well as the following friendly versus Japan on March 31.
The bloated squad will be chopped down for the final 26 to travel for the tournament across the US, Canada and Mexico.
The former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss has already warned the nine players who are likely to go home.
Tuchel said: “I think the tough part is already done. I told them already, the candidates.
“They know that it is possible. And I think everyone — including myself — had a chance to digest it.
“I’ve told 15-year-olds they cannot stay at the academy level when I was U15, U14 coach.
“That was really hard because they start crying after five seconds and they feel that their life dream is shattered by their coach.”
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Tuchel has also pleaded with England fans to avoid jeering Benjamin White as he insisted the defender deserves a second chance for the Three Lions.
The Arsenal man is in the squad for the first time since he left the 2022 World Cup in Qatar due to personal reasons.
Tuchel said: “I can imagine there are some strong opinions out there, but nobody in camp has had the strongest of opinions, so yes, he deserves a second chance.
“People have to trust me that he behaves very, very well. He was positive about coming back and was desperate for many months to come back.
“Now he has the chance because Jarell Quansah pulled out through injury and he is eager to prove a point. Hopefully people give him a fair chance.”
White, 28, who has four senior caps, left Qatar due to a number of reasons which included a bust-up with England assistant Steve Holland.
Asked if he had spoken to White about his reasons for quitting the World Cup, Tuchel said: “I asked him and he didn’t want to speak about it. I didn’t want to know about it because I think he deserves a second chance.
“He has not put a foot wrong with me. Something must have happened, because if a player leaves from a tournament, it’s never good and it never can be nothing.
“I’m not sure if ‘apologise’ is the right word, but maybe just to clear the air with the players who were there, and I think he has done that with the majority of the players.”
Tuchel was also asked why he picked White and not Trent Alexander-Arnold.
He said: “It’s just a choice. A sporting choice, a difficult choice, and maybe a hard choice, and maybe to a certain degree unfair. But these choices have to be made.
“The choice was for Ben White because I saw him play here in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City.
“He played the Champions League match I think before and was straightaway back to his old self.”
Even though John Stones is struggling with a calf injury, White is set to start on the substitute bench.
After Friday’s game, Tuchel will send home nine of the squad with another 11 stars linking up for Tuesday’s home game with Japan.
One player with much to prove is Cole Palmer who last played for England against Andorra last June, his only appearance for Tuchel.
Palmer has struggled with form and fitness for Chelsea.
Tuchel said: “He had a difficult season but he has also had a difficult spell with the national team.
“He was only once available for us and when he was available, we decided to stick with the same squad so there is big competition for his best position, number 10.”
Jude Bellingham, who has been sidelined for Real Madrid with a hamstring injury, also trained with the squad at Wembley last night but he will not feature but should play against Japan.
Tuchel added: “He will get some minutes in the second game. We don’t take any risks.
I was surprised that Madrid took the risk in the last game but we won’t take the risk.”
England probable XI vs Uruguay
HERE is a look at the probably XI who will start the friendlt match against Uruguay tonight..
GK – Jordan Pickford
LB – Tino Livramento
CB – Fikayo Tomori
CB – Harry Maguire
RB – Djed Spence
CM – James Garner
CM – Adam Wharton
LW – Marcus Rashford
CAM – Cole Palmer
RW – Noni Madueke
ST – Dominic Solanke
