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.
Tuchel was clear that he selected a group of players he fully trusts.
“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.”
So what exactly happened with the leaks, and what do Tuchel’s pointed comments about selflessness tell us about what he wants from England’s culture?
