Walker Questions Tuchel With 3 England 1966 World Cup Squad Omissions
Kyle Walker used an england 1966 world cup squad preview to question Thomas Tuchel’s selection, saying Morgan Gibbs-White, Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire should have been included. The former England right-back, who earned 96 caps, said the squad’s defensive choices already raise concerns before the tournament.
Kyle Walker and Tuchel
Walker spoke at a special World Cup preview event hosted by The Sun and pointed directly at the players Tuchel left out. He said: "I probably would have taken Morgan Gibbs-White. He’s been fantastic for Forest."
He also said: "I do think Luke Shaw, for me, should have been on the plane and I do think Harry Maguire should have been on the plane." Walker added that Maguire and Shaw had "probably had the best seasons for Manchester United in a long time" even though they were left out of the 2026 World Cup squad.
Shaw, Maguire and Gibbs-White
The criticism was not limited to individual names. Walker said the defence included players who had not played too well or were carrying injuries, and he questioned whether they could be relied on across the stretch of the tournament.
He also expressed concern about John Stones and the availability of Reece James. Those comments framed the omission debate around depth as much as form, with Walker’s point centered on whether Tuchel had enough dependable options in a squad built for the 2026 World Cup.
Foden and England's depth
Walker widened the discussion to Phil Foden, another long-time teammate, saying: "I’ve played with him for eight years, but he’s not on the plane," before urging him to respond the right way. "It’s football. What do you do, sulk and cry in the corner, or work harder? He just needs to make sure that come the start of the new season... he puts his best foot forward and make sure that he is the first name on the team sheet."
He also said, "Players don’t get tired," a line that fits the bigger issue Tuchel now faces: how to balance selection trust, fitness and recovery while building a squad for a tournament played in the sweltering heat of the United States. Maguire, meanwhile, was said to be shocked and gutted after being left out despite making 25 appearances for Manchester United this term, while Gibbs-White had just finished an impressive campaign with 18 goals for Nottingham Forest.
