England's World Cup camp has barely begun and it is already defined by who is missing from full training. Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Declan Rice and Noni Madueke are all set to join later because of Arsenal's Champions League final involvement, while Alex Scott, Rio Ngumoha and Joshua King are travelling as training players rather than part of the 26-man tournament group.

Why the camp looks unusual before it starts

That mix leaves Thomas Tuchel with a strange opening week. The headline names are not all in the building, and the training group is larger than the competitive one in the eyes of the staff. Dean Henderson is also arriving later because he is involved in the Conference League final, with Jason Steele set to act as deputy if required.

The omissions are part of the story too. Tuchel's squad announcement left out Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer, three names that were always going to draw attention because of their standing and recent output.

There is a strong case that the late arrivals matter more than the reaction cycle around the snubs. England are not just waiting on bodies, they are waiting on some of their most important players, and that means the rhythm of the camp will be off from the start.

Why Alex Scott is in camp despite missing the 26

Scott is the clearest example of how Tuchel wants this camp to work. He is not in the competitive squad, but he is travelling as a training player after starting 34 Premier League matches this season. That is a strong enough workload to justify the call, and it suggests Tuchel wants him close to the environment even if he is not part of the tournament group.

The same approach explains why Rio Ngumoha and Joshua King are coming along too. This is not a reward for sentiment, it is a camp built to keep useful players around the group while the main squad is still incomplete.

The numbers around the delayed players also show why the absences matter. Bukayo Saka's Champions League rating of 7.1, Declan Rice's 36 Premier League appearances, Eberechi Eze's seven Premier League goals and Noni Madueke's 7.12 Champions League rating are all reminders that England are not waiting on fringe names.

That is why the criticism of Tuchel's selection has some force, even if it is not the whole picture. Josh Windass summed up one side of the reaction simply enough:

FAQ

Why is Thomas Tuchel's England World Cup squad already causing debate?

The debate comes from a mix of late arrivals and big omissions. Arsenal's Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Declan Rice and Noni Madueke join later, while Alex Scott, Rio Ngumoha and Joshua King travel as training players rather than part of the 26-man group. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer are among the notable names left out.

Which England players are joining the World Cup camp late?

Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Declan Rice and Noni Madueke are joining the England squad later. Dean Henderson is also delayed because he is competing in the Conference League final, and Brighton's Jason Steele would act as his deputy if required.

Why has Alex Scott been taken to the England camp if he is not in the 26-man squad?

Alex Scott is travelling as a training player rather than a tournament squad member. He has started 34 Premier League matches this season, which explains why Thomas Tuchel wants him around the camp for experience.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →