Tuchel confident after omitting 'exceptional talents' from England squad

The German manager left out several high-profile players for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, such as Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Harry Maguire, Adam Wharton, Morgan Gibbs-White and Luke Shaw were also excluded as Gareth Southgate's replacement made a bold selection.

England are considered strong contenders to win the tournament, 60 years after securing their sole major international title.

Tuchel emphasised that the squad's cohesion was more crucial than including star players.

"From the outset, we were clear about our goal to assemble the best possible team, which doesn't necessarily mean selecting the 26 most talented individuals," Tuchel stated during a press conference at Wembley.

"Teams win trophies, it's that straightforward."

The ex-Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain coach acknowledged the difficulty of his decisions but expressed confidence in his choices.

"It was inevitable that from the initial 55 players, we would have to leave out some exceptional talents and personalities," he said.

The 52-year-old continued: "I appreciate these decisions, even if they required weeks or months of deliberation.

"They provide clarity and ultimately sharpen the team's focus."

'Unity'

Tuchel, tasked with delivering World Cup success, spoke of fostering a sense of unity and highlighted England's world-class players as key to their chances.

"Our objective is to aim for victory without hesitation, while respecting the game, our opponents and the challenges of the tournament," he said.

Tuchel added: "I recently came across a quote from Rafael Nadal who said, 'I'm not a winner, I'm a competitor, I'm a challenger'.

"That encapsulates my mindset heading into this tournament in the US. I'm driven, eager and ready to compete.

"That's the identity I want for our team, the approach I want us to adopt, and the reason behind our squad selection. I'm fully convinced we've made the right choices."