'Unselfish' over 'ego' - what do leaks say about Tuchel's England?

England’s 26-man World Cup squad announcement followed extensive leaks that revealed most selections before the official call. Players learned their status around the same time the public began to know. Thomas Tuchel said his role was not to pick only the most talented, but to choose players he fully trusts who are committed to their roles on and off the pitch. Harry Maguire publicly expressed shock and disappointment after learning he was left out, drawing criticism from some fans and pundits. Other players reportedly stayed quiet while still understanding the information would spread. Tuchel’s comments about selflessness connect to the culture he wants, especially compared with Gareth Southgate’s reputation for unity and a strong relationship between players and the public.

"“My job is not necessarily to select the 26 most talented players,” he said. “I can assure every fan in the country that we have 26 100% committed players, who are ready to buy into their role on and off the pitch, who are ready and committed to the idea of team spirit and being unselfish.”"

"There were very few surprises when England's World Cup squad was announced on Friday morning. Not because Thomas Tuchel made no controversial selections, but because the entire 26-man squad was steadily revealed through a series of leaks to journalists on Thursday. The identities of who was in and who was out began to become clear from about 17:00 BST, at the same time as the majority of the players themselves were finding out."

"Manchester United defender Harry Maguire's decision to go public with his “shock and disappointment” on social media after being informed of his non-selection on Thursday drew criticism from some fans and pundits, who suggested the experienced defender should have waited for the official announcement before speaking out. But other players, who did not publicly comment while still passing on news about their own situations, would have been fully aware the information would leak."

"Tuchel's predecessor Gareth Southgate was praised throughout his tenure for generating an atmosphere of unity in his squad and restoring the positive relationship between the players and the public. The first three players whose absence from the squad began to be leaked to journalists - Maguire, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer - were all previously favourites of Southgate's."

Read at www.bbc.com