Thomas Tuchel recalls Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden to England squad

New Delhi: Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have both been recalled by England manager Thomas Tuchel for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania. The pair is regarded as England's most gifted attacking talents and were left out of the squad as Tuchel focused on building team chemistry and sent a message that reputations alone wouldn't guarantee a place in his setup.

Both players will return on the back of strong performances for their clubs. Bellingham has hit top form for Real Madrid since returning from shoulder surgery, scoring in three of his last five matches. Meanwhile, Foden produced a standout display for Manchester City earlier this week, netting twice in their 4-1 Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund. Their inclusion marks a timely boost for England as they prepare for their final two qualifiers before next summer’s World Cup.

Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott has earned his first senior call-up after an impressive start to the Premier League season. The 22-year-old was a key part of England's victorious Under-21 European Championship side late summer and has played in all ten of Bournemouth's league fixtures so far and scored once.

There are also recalls for Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope, Manchester City defender Nico O’Reilly and Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton. However, several players from the last camp including Morgan Gibbs-White, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Myles Lewis-Skelly, James Trafford, and Ollie Watkins have been dropped. Tuchel’s latest selection hints at a mix of experience and form-based choices as he continues to shape England’s squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Once again, Alexander-Arnold and Grealish are not part of the squad. Despite regaining fitness and form with Real Madrid, the right-back has once again been overlooked. Earlier, Tuchel himself has described Alexander-Arnold as "a world-class talent still finding his best rhythm" but now seems to be prioritizing defensive balance.

Jack Grealish who is currently on loan at Everton from Manchester City also misses out. The forward's exclusion underlines England manager's willingness to make bold decisions even when it comes to high profile names. Brighton striker Danny Welbeck was another who failed to make the cut despite calls for his inclusion.

England has already secured qualification with six win from six and will enter their final Group K fixtures with confidence. They host Serbia on November 13 before travelling to Albania three days later. These are the last matches that will serve as the Lions' last competitive tests before the 2026 World Cup in North America, where Tuchel will look to deliver the trophy that has eluded the nation since 1966.