Former Gunner Aaron Ramsdale is one of three players who have been dropped for Thomas Tuchel’s first game in charge of the England national team.
Thomas Tuchel named 26 players in his England squad for the March international break, but only 23 can make each matchday squad. As a result, the head coach had to cut three for Friday’s match against Albania.
Sami Mokbel reports for the BBC that Morgan Gibbs-White, Jarell Quansah, and former Gunner Aaron Ramsdale are the three unlucky players who won’t be involved in Tuchel’s first match in charge.
Ramsdale was one of four goalkeepers selected for the squad, along with Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, and James Trafford. It was always likely at least one of them would be left out, but the non-selection of Ramsdale suggests he’s not Tuchel’s first or second choice at this point.
It would be too hasty to draw any stronger conclusions than that. Ramsdale could come back into the squad for the next game at another goalkeeper’s expense, we’ll have to wait and see.
Mokbel also reports that Arsenal’s Declan Rice is expected to start the match, and though he doesn’t mention Myles Lewis-Skelly, the 18-year-old should also have a good chance.
With England so short on left-backs at the moment, Tuchel doesn’t have too many alternatives to Lewis-Skelly on the left.
Friday’s match at home to Albania is the first of England’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers, so the team will want to get off to a good start with an opening-day win. The game kicks off at 19:45 GMT.
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