England’s squad for the upcoming Nations League matches just took a massive hit, with five key players pulling out right before their extended international break kicks off. Tino Livramento, Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, and Declan Rice are all officially withdrawn, leaving manager Thomas Tuchel scrambling to fill some big shoes. This is a tough pill to swallow, especially with a massive game against World Cup winners Spain looming on Saturday.
Palmer’s Injury Curse Continues, And Tuchel’s Plans Take A Hit
The news about Cole Palmer is a real gut punch, even more so considering what manager Thomas Tuchel said about him recently. The 24-year-old was finally recalled by Tuchel after being controversially left out of the World Cup squad, with Tuchel stating Palmer had a “point to prove” and needed “to step up” to “keep his shirt and justify the nomination.” Now, Palmer is out again with a minor injury, the latest chapter in what was a recurring groin injury saga for him in 2025-26. It’s wild, because he just played the full game for Chelsea in their 3-0 defeat at Brentford on Friday. After missing the World Cup selection, he’s been a workhorse for Chelsea, starting six of their seven games, playing the full 90 minutes in five of them, and bagging four goals and two assists. He last played for England way back in March in a 1-0 friendly loss to Japan. This withdrawal, after all that talk, really makes you wonder about the timing and impact on Tuchel’s plans.
The Replacements Are In, But The Squad’s Depth Will Be Tested
It’s not just Palmer, though. Declan Rice, who went the distance for Arsenal in their 3-0 defeat by Brighton, is also unavailable. Manchester United duo Rashford and Mainoo are out too, both pulled after they were taken off in the final moments of Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Fulham and subsequently assessed by their club. Livramento, who’s only made three substitute appearances for Newcastle United this season, completes the list of withdrawals. To fill the gaps, Tuchel has called up Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, 26, and Everton’s James Garner. Gibbs-White, who has six international caps and was apparently close to being in the initial squad, has one goal and two assists from Forest’s five league games this season. Garner, with two senior England appearances in March, also comes in after missing out on the 2026 World Cup. Both players have a chance to show what they’re made of, but replacing five established players on short notice is a monumental task.
England faces World Cup winners Spain at Wembley this Saturday, September 26. After that, they hit the road to play the Czech Republic on September 29, then Croatia on October 3, before coming home to host the Czechs again on October 6. This extended international break is going to be a huge test of the squad’s depth and resilience. Can Tuchel’s new call-ups rise to the occasion, or will these withdrawals leave England vulnerable in the Nations League? It’s going to be a wild ride, that’s for sure.
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Originally reported by BBC Sport.
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