Wembley will open England’s Nations League campaign against newly crowned world champions Spain on Saturday, but Thomas Tuchel’s squad has been reshaped before the first ball is kicked. Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Marcus Rashford, Tino Livramento and Kobbie Mainoo have all withdrawn through injury from the group selected for matches against Spain, the Czech Republic and Croatia.
Everton midfielder James Garner and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White have been brought in as replacements, adding fresh options to a midfield group depleted by the absences of Rice and Mainoo.
Palmer’s withdrawal is particularly unfortunate after he had worked his way back into Tuchel’s thinking. The 24-year-old had missed out on England’s squad for this year’s World Cup, yet responded strongly at Chelsea, where he has returned to form with four goals and two assists across seven appearances this season.
He completed Chelsea’s 90-minute defeat to Brentford on Friday, but will now be unavailable for a demanding international window that begins in London. England face Spain at Wembley before travelling east to Prague to meet the Czech Republic on 29 September, with Croatia also awaiting during the Nations League programme.
