Sports
Thomas Tuchel Claims Kane Among 3 England Stars Who Cannot Play Together
Thomas Tuchel, the third non-Englishman to take on the role as Three Lions manager, was appointed by the Football Association for one reason: to win the 2026 World Cup. With two qualifying matches to play, England have already qualified for next summer’s international showpiece, but there is plenty of work to do, including making some very tough decisions, before the excitement rises.
Widely regarded as one of the best managers in world football, Tuchel was announced as Gareth Southgate’s successor and the FA’s chief decision makers, Mark Bullingham most notably, have entrusted the German to take on a talented set of players and win international silverware in what will be the first time in 60 years.
England’s first – and only! – World Cup triumph came back in 1966 when Sir Alf Ramsey’s side beat West Germany 4–2, but can Tuchel emulate the same success six decades on? Between now and next summer, he has plenty of work to do behind the scenes and, recently, he’s claimed that three of his most high-profile players are unable to operate together in England’s current system.
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England’s World Cup Qualification Table – Group K |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rank |
Nation |
Played |
W/D/L |
Points |
|
1. |
England |
6 |
6/0/0 |
18 |
|
2. |
Albania |
6 |
3/2/1 |
11 |
|
3. |
Serbia |
6 |
3/1/2 |
10 |
|
4. |
Latvia |
7 |
1/2/4 |
5 |
|
5. |
Andorra |
7 |
0/1/6 |
1 |
Tuchel Believes Three High-Profile England Players Cannot Play Together
So, what decisions does Krumbach-born Tuchel have to make? Jordan Pickford, despite some unfair noise, will be standing inbetween the sticks, though there are ever-growing problems on either side of the backline. Who will partner Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi in the heart of the England defence, too, is a decision that needs to be ironed out ahead of next summer.
Elliot Anderson is also worming his way into Tuchel’s engine room constellation, Declan Rice is expected to be one of the few non-negotiable picks heading into the competition and his Arsenal teammate, Bukayo Saka, will surely operate on the right wing.
However, the rest of Tuchel’s starting team is up for contention and ahead of England’s November round of fixtures – against Serbia on Tuesday 13 and Albania on Sunday 16 – the former Chelsea and Bayern Munich custodian was asked whether the high-profile trio of Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and Phil Foden can operate together.
“At the moment, if we keep the structure, they cannot play,” the 52-year-old boss said, per The Herald. “They can, but not in the structure, not for the balance that we developed and not for the structure that comes also with wingers who are like specialists in their positions. We play at the moment with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine.”
Bellingham and Foden, two experienced players on the international scene, have been recalled for England’s upcoming Group K double-header against Serbia and Albania – and Tuchel has pulled no punches when describing how he intends to use them both.
He’s claimed the Real Madrid ace – who is widely regarded as one of the best footballers on the planet – will be strictly used as a No.10 behind the striker and that Manchester City’s Foden is no longer an option on the flank for England. Instead, the 25-year-old is viewed as a mix between a No.9 and No.10.
The latter position is highly contested, though, Tuchel has claimed. Not only the names mentioned, but Southgate’s successor named the triumvirate of Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer and Morgan Gibbs-White as also being viable choices in the pocket. He said:
“Especially in the number 10 position, if you think about Phil, who could play there, if you think about Jude, you think about Morgan Rogers, who played fantastic for us in this position. You have Cole Palmer, you have Morgan Gibbs-White, so there’s a lot, a lot of players, and there’s the chance that we will not take everyone. Simply to…not because we don’t like it, not because they don’t individually deserve it, but we will always do what’s best for the team, we will always do what’s best for winning.”
Kane has long been the go-to option at the tail end of the pitch; Gareth Southgate stuck by the Bayern Munich talisman and Tuchel is expected to do so too. Foden will be there or thereabouts to rival for the solitary centre-forward berth while Bellingham, thanks to being able to pop up in high-pressure moments, is likely to be either player’s support act.
“We will always do what’s best for balance and we will try to keep the clarity, even if means that we have to take tough decisions,” Tuchel continued on the basis that winning the 23rd instalment of the World Cup remains atop of his priority list. “We take tough decisions in any camp, and this will not change when we go to a tournament.”
Tottenham have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Sandro Tonali this summer.
Spurs have had a busy start to the summer transfer window, signing three new defenders and bringing in a goalkeeper already and they are not done there.
Head coach Roberto De Zerbi has moved his transfer business further up the pitch, with Tottenham in talks to sign both Tonali and West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes.
Tottenham have already had an offer in the region of £75million rejected by Newcastle for the Italian and the Lilywhites are preparing to go back in with a new offer for the 26-year-old.
Spurs have already agreed terms with Tonali
Reports have suggested that personal terms will not be an issue, with Tottenham reportedly already agreeing to a £200,000-a-week contract with Tonali.
However, the biggest problem – aside from agreeing a fee with Newcastle – appeared to be the competition Spurs would face in trying to complete a deal.
Manchester City have also been linked with a move for Tonali, although their initial focus was on getting a deal over the line to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.
That transfer finally looks set to go through, after City agreed on a £116million move to sign Anderson, with add-ons taking that figure past the British transfer record Liverpool paid Newcastle for Alexander Isak last summer.
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With question marks over the long-term future of Rodri at the Etihad Stadium, City, under new manager Enzo Maresca, will be looking for added reinforcements and Tonali is seen as the perfect candidate, despite the similarly large price tag on his shoulders compared with Anderson.
City are keen to have conversations with Newcastle over a move to sign Tonali, with an offer in the region of £95million being readied by the Citizens, according to Spanish publication Marca.
Man City plot alternative transfer move
However, City may well have turned their attentions elsewhere, due to Spurs’ long-standing pursuit of Tonali.
According to the Athletic, City are now looking at making a move to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi, the 18-year-old Moroccan who has been shining at the 2026 World Cup in America, Canada and Mexico so far this summer.
The Athletic report states that “Sandro Tonali is of interest but he has an offer from Tottenham – which is another factor influencing the interest in Bouaddi”.
Spurs will be keen to get Tonali to sign on the dotted ine and continue the transfer revolution going on under De Zerbi.
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Iran have posted a statement hitting out at US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin for his comments after their World Cup exit.
Iran’s time at this year’s tournament in North America came to an end last weekend in dramatic fashion. After draws against Belgium and New Zealand, Team Melli knew a victory over Egypt in their final group match on Saturday would see them progress to the last 32.
Amir Ghalenoei’s side thought they had scored a last-gasp winner at Seattle Stadium when Shoja Khalilzadeh found the back of the net. The goal was chalked off for the tightest of offside calls, though, meaning they had to settle for a draw.
Despite that disappointment, Iran still had a chance of progressing as one of the eight best-performing third-placed sides. However, they were knocked out of the competition after Austria’s 96th minute equaliser against Algeria.
‘One of Donald Trump’s Key Allies’ Celebrates Iran’s World Cup Exit
Iran’s football team has faced multiple hardships during this summer’s World Cup amid the war between the two countries.
While Iran were allowed to play their matches in the United States, they were not allowed to stay in the country for a prolonged period and were forced to travel to and from Mexico in between games.
Iran lodged an official complaint to FIFA due to their travel issues, with head coach Amir Ghalenoei describing themselves as ‘the most oppressed’ team at the World Cup, while captain Mehdi Terami also hit out at FIFA and the United States for the hardships they were forced to endure.
Mullin, described as ‘one of Donald Trump’s key allies, has now expressed his relief at Iran’s group stage elimination in a World Cup briefing at the government’s Special Event Coordination Centre on Monday. He told reporters, per the Telegraph:
“I’m just glad they’re [Iran] done, and they’re not coming back. I was so happy when we were able to pull their visas and said they could leave the US soil, and I might’ve sung a song or two or maybe even danced a happy dance. I’m very happy they’re going back because there wasn’t a single team that we dealt with more than them.”
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Iran Hit Out at Mullin
Iran have not reacted well to Mullin’s comments. An official for the FFIRI said: “Iranians are used to the mistreatment and lies of US officials, so no one in Iran is surprised by these hostile remarks.
“These remarks once again demonstrate that U.S. officials have no commitment to international law or the principles expected of a host nation capable of organising a global sporting event.
“The fact that he openly celebrates Iran’s elimination says far more about him than it does about our team. It reflects a level of pettiness that cannot even tolerate the presence of a football team competing on the world’s biggest stage.
“After our match against New Zealand, our head coach [Amir Ghalenoei] said that the United States did not want Iran to remain in this tournament because of the inhumane and unprofessional treatment our team experienced. These latest comments only reinforce that belief.”
Manchester United are pushing to sign multiple midfielders in the summer transfer window, and one has now travelled to Manchester in order to undergo a medical ahead of a move.
The Red Devils are in the market for midfielders, and they have reached a full agreement to sign Atalanta star Ederson in the summer transfer window.
It appears that the Brazilian international isn’t the only midfielder who is going to be arriving through the door at Old Trafford before the window closes in September.
The Manchester club are heavily focusing on reinforcements in the middle of the park after Casemiro left the club earlier this summer.
An injury to Manuel Ugarte isn’t going to impact their plans, according to David Ornstein, with Mateus Fernandes their immediate priority.
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Midfielder Heads to Man Utd for Medical
According to a report from The Athletic, young midfielder Cristian Orozco has travelled to Manchester to undergo a medical at Manchester United ahead of his move from Fortaleza CF.
The 17-year-old will officially become a United player when he turns 18 next month, with a deal agreed back in September.
The youngster turns 18 in July, and he’s represented Colombia at under-17 level, playing his domestic football in the Colombian top flight.
Orozco is unlikely to come in and become a first-team signing for United at the moment, considering his age. There’s no doubt they’re likely to sign another midfielder this summer.
It looks set to be a busy few weeks for United as they look to get multiple deals over the line.
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England World Cup Quiz
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Man Utd Leading Fernandes Race
Manchester United are reportedly leading the race to sign West Ham midfielder Fernandes despite strong interest from Tottenham.
Both clubs are in the race to secure the signature of Fernandes, and the Portuguese midfielder is seemingly keen on a move to either club.
Alongside strengthening the first team, United are also looking to improve their academy as they aim to head back in the right direction after a difficult few years.
There was a vast improvement in the second half of last season, but there’s no doubt they still need to go to the next level.
Fernandes would certainly help improve their starting XI, giving them fresh options ahead of a season in the Champions League.
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