Coach Tuchel excludes Arsenal star from England squad

The England squad for the last two qualifiers of the 2026 World Cup has been revealed, with the absence of wing-back Lewis-Skelly standing out.

Last month, Myles Lewis-Skelly was called up to the England squad and made a positive impression during training sessions. However, Coach Tuchel previously warned that a lack of regular playing time at Arsenal could directly impact his future with the national team.

The German coach clearly stated during his latest press conference:

“Not getting regular minutes will become a problem for Myles Lewis-Skelly. He is well-behaved and has a good attitude, but being well-behaved alone isn’t enough to keep a place in the squad. To be selected, he must prove himself at his club.”

In fact, since the start of the 2025/26 season, Lewis-Skelly has only played 86 minutes in the Premier League, mostly as a substitute. Coach Mikel Arteta prefers to use Riccardo Calafiori at left-back, limiting the 19-year-old’s opportunities to showcase his talent.

Not only Lewis-Skelly, but the current call-up list also excludes two major names, Jack Grealish and Danny Welbeck, despite both performing well at their clubs. Their absence indicates Tuchel’s readiness to make significant changes in the final phase of qualifiers.

On the other hand, Phil Foden (Man City) and Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) have returned to the squad after missing the previous call-up. Both are expected to bring creativity and fresh energy to the “Three Lions” attack.

Notably, young midfielder Alex Scott (Bournemouth) has been called up to the England team for the first time following his outstanding form that helped the southern club surprisingly reach second place in the Premier League standings.

Ahead of the final two matches, England has already secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup finals leading the group by 7 points over second-place Albania. Therefore, Coach Tuchel can take advantage of this to experiment with the lineup and give chances to new players.

Although excluded, Myles Lewis-Skelly still has a chance to return if he can reclaim a starting position at Arsenal for the rest of the season. With his potential and professional attitude, the young player is still considered a future prospect for the “Three Lions.”

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