Former England captain John Terry has strongly questioned Thomas Tuchel’s squad selection for the 2026 World Cup, insisting that 11 of the 26 players are simply not up to international standard.
Speaking on Piers Morgan Uncensored, the Chelsea icon argued that Tuchel made several glaring omissions. “I see it very differently,” Terry said. “The manager left out players who should be automatic picks.”
He singled out Harry Maguire as the most baffling exclusion, claiming the defender remains far superior to Dan Burn, who made the cut.
Terry also pointed to Luke Shaw’s absence at left‑back, especially as youngster Nico O’Reilly has been chosen instead.
The biggest shock, according to Terry, was the decision to drop Cole Palmer. “That’s a huge call, and I think it’s wrong,” he added. “You need your best talent on the biggest stage.”
Terry was equally unimpressed with some of those included, naming Djed Spence as someone who “is not England’s future.”
He concluded that while 14 or 15 players in the squad are genuine starters, the remaining 11 lack the quality to push the first team or step up when needed. “I just don’t see them making a real impact,” Terry said.
