Why Thomas Tuchel Didn’t Include Ollie Watkins in His First England Squad
On March 14, 2025, Thomas Tuchel unveiled his inaugural England squad as the Three Lions’ manager, tasked with leading the team into the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia. The announcement, eagerly anticipated by fans and analysts alike, brought a mix of surprises, recalls, and notable omissions. Among the most glaring absences was Aston Villa’s prolific striker Ollie Watkins, a player who had been a consistent presence in recent England squads under Gareth Southgate and interim boss Lee Carsley. Watkins’ exclusion sparked debate across football circles, with many questioning why Tuchel, a manager renowned for his tactical acumen, opted to leave out a forward in such fine form. This article explores the potential reasons behind Tuchel’s decision, delving into factors such as injury concerns, tactical preferences, squad balance, and the broader context of his short-term mission to win the World Cup.
The Injury Factor: A Decisive Blow?
One of the most immediate and plausible explanations for Watkins’ absence lies in his physical condition. Just days before Tuchel’s squad announcement, Aston Villa faced Club Brugge in a Champions League match on March 12, 2025. During that game, which Villa won 3-0, Watkins reportedly requested a substitution at halftime, citing that he “didn’t feel good” after picking up a minor injury. Villa manager Unai Emery confirmed post-match that Watkins had sustained a knock, though the severity remained unclear at the time of the squad reveal. This development, as reported in outlets like Sky Sports and Birmingham Live, likely played a pivotal role in Tuchel’s decision-making process.
For a manager like Tuchel, whose 18-month contract underscores a laser focus on immediate success, fielding a fully fit squad for his first camp is paramount. The qualifiers against Albania and Latvia, scheduled for March 21 and 24, mark the opening steps in England’s World Cup journey, and Tuchel cannot afford to gamble on a player nursing even a minor injury. Watkins, despite his impressive tally of 14 goals and 11 assists in the 2024-25 season up to that point, might have been deemed a risk too great to take. In his place, Tuchel turned to Tottenham’s Dominic Solanke, who had recently returned from a knee injury and was available, alongside Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane and Aston Villa’s Marcus Rashford (on loan from Manchester United). This suggests that availability and fitness were non-negotiable criteria in Tuchel’s selection process.
Tactical Considerations: Does Watkins Fit Tuchel’s System?
Beyond the injury narrative, Tuchel’s tactical philosophy offers another lens through which to view Watkins’ exclusion. Throughout his managerial career—at Mainz, Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich—Tuchel has demonstrated a preference for versatile, dynamic forwards who can adapt to multiple roles within his systems. His Champions League-winning Chelsea side in 2021 relied heavily on a fluid front three, often featuring Kai Havertz as a false nine, supported by wingers like Timo Werner and Christian Pulisic who pressed relentlessly. Similarly, at Bayern, he tailored his attack around Harry Kane’s playmaking ability, complemented by pacey wingers like Leroy Sané.
Watkins, while an exceptional goal-scorer and a tireless worker, is primarily a traditional number nine—a poacher who thrives on service and excels in the penalty area. His 13 Premier League goals by mid-March 2025 placed him among England’s top strikers, yet his profile might not align perfectly with Tuchel’s vision for the national team. In his first squad, Tuchel included Kane as the undisputed focal point, Solanke as a like-for-like deputy, and a host of versatile attacking options such as Rashford, Anthony Gordon, Phil Foden, and Morgan Rogers. These players offer positional flexibility, allowing Tuchel to switch between a 4-2-3-1 and a 3-4-2-1—formations he has favored in the past—without relying solely on a classic striker.
Watkins’ omission could signal that Tuchel is prioritizing adaptability over a second traditional forward, especially with Kane entrenched as the starter. The German manager’s comments during his press conference, where he emphasized “physical impact” and “defensive ability” in justifying Rashford’s inclusion, hint at a desire for forwards who contribute across the pitch—a trait Watkins possesses but perhaps not to the extent of others in Tuchel’s chosen lineup.
Squad Balance and Competition for Places
With only 26 spots available in his squad, Tuchel faced the unenviable task of trimming a 55-player longlist into a cohesive unit. The forward line, in particular, posed a dilemma given England’s wealth of attacking talent. Kane’s inclusion was a foregone conclusion, reaffirmed by Tuchel’s prior working relationship with him at Bayern and his status as England’s record goal-scorer. Solanke, despite a rocky start at Tottenham following his summer move from Bournemouth, earned a nod as Kane’s understudy, possibly due to his recent return to fitness and familiarity to Tuchel from the Premier League.
The remaining attacking slots went to players like Rashford, Gordon, Foden, Jarrod Bowen, and Rogers, each bringing a unique dimension. Rashford’s recall, after a year out of the England setup, was justified by his resurgence at Villa, where his defensive work rate and physicality impressed Tuchel. Gordon and Bowen offer pace and directness on the flanks, while Foden and Rogers provide creativity and youth. Watkins, as a second out-and-out striker, might have been seen as redundant in a squad already stacked with attacking options, especially when Tuchel needed to allocate places to other positions like midfield and defense, where injuries to players like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Bukayo Saka necessitated additional cover.
Moreover, Tuchel’s decision to include uncapped players like Myles Lewis-Skelly and Dan Burn, alongside veterans like Jordan Henderson and Kyle Walker, reflects a blend of youth and experience tailored to his immediate needs. Watkins, at 29, falls neither into the “future prospect” nor “seasoned leader” category, potentially making him a less strategic fit for this particular camp.
The Bigger Picture: A Short-Term Mission
Tuchel’s appointment comes with a clear mandate from the FA: win the 2026 World Cup. His 18-month contract, running through the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, leaves little room for long-term experimentation. Unlike Southgate, who balanced development with results over eight years, or Carsley, who leaned on his Under-21 pool, Tuchel’s focus is on assembling a squad capable of delivering silverware in the here and now. This pragmatic approach might explain why he leaned on players he knows well—like Kane, Rashford, and Reece James—while sidelining Watkins, whose injury clouded his immediate reliability.
Reports from The Athletic and The Guardian suggest Tuchel has been meticulous in his preparation, attending matches across England and Europe and speaking to over 55 players since January. His exclusion of Watkins, then, is unlikely to be a snap judgment but rather a calculated move based on the information available to him. While Watkins’ form—outright second only to Kane among English strikers—makes his absence surprising, Tuchel’s comments about this being “only the first step” of the journey imply that the door remains open for future inclusion, provided Watkins recovers fully and adapts to Tuchel’s demands.
Fan Sentiment and the Road Ahead
The reaction to Watkins’ omission has been one of disappointment among Villa fans and neutrals alike. Posts on X highlighted his injury as a key factor, with some speculating that Tuchel’s Villa-heavy selections (Rashford, Rogers, and Ezri Konsa) might have capped the club’s representation. Others questioned whether Watkins’ traditional striker role clashed with Tuchel’s modern, fluid preferences. Regardless, his exclusion underscores the ruthless selection process Tuchel has adopted as he builds toward 2026.
In conclusion, Ollie Watkins’ absence from Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad appears to stem from a confluence of factors: a timely injury, tactical misalignment, squad balance constraints, and Tuchel’s short-term focus on fitness and familiarity. While Watkins’ credentials are undeniable, this snub is not necessarily a permanent rejection. As England’s World Cup campaign unfolds, a fully fit Watkins could yet force his way back into Tuchel’s plans, proving that form and persistence can sway even the most exacting of managers. For now, though, Tuchel’s gaze is fixed on Wembley, and Watkins must wait for his next chance to shine for the Three Lions.
