THOMAS TUCHEL is planning talks with up to SIXTY England players as he prepares his squad for the World Cup.
The England manager, who does not have another match until March, will spend the coming weeks speaking to his stars via either video calls or face-to-face chats.
Tuchel, who has always worked off a long list of over 50 players for each squad, has confirmed he is flying to Madrid to speak to both Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The German is set to address Bellingham’s behaviour after he threw his arms in the air when he was substituted in the 2-0 win in Albania.
Tuchel will also talk to Alexander-Arnold who has fallen out of favour.
In Tirana, the Three Lions manager started with former Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah, now at Bayer Leverkusen, at right-back even though he is a centre-back.
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Tuchel said: “First of all, it’s my job now to make contact with everyone, players like Trent. Players that are on our long list, 55, 60 players, to reach out to them, be in touch with them, explain to them why they were not here.
“Explain to them what they have to do, where they can improve. Can they even do something or is it just a choice. So this is my job for the next weeks and months.
“It is better on Facetime. Then I see the expression, at least, and get a feeling for the person. Or I need to visit them, visit training grounds.
“We can do group visits. We can do Jude and Trent. And visit the clubs. And some of them we will call. Let’s see.
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“Listen, we’ve just finished this camp and I think it’s important that I reach out to everyone, even to the guys we didn’t pick so regularly to tell them where they are and give them honest feedback.”
World Cup squads were increased from 23 to 26 for Qatar in 2022 so it is likely Fifa will stick with the larger number.
Tuchel defended the decision to play Quansah at right-back on Sunday.
He said: “Of course I have a lot of trust in Jarell. I see his talent but I see the package. He is tall, he is fast, he is strong in build-up. He is strong in the air.
” I saw him playing for Liverpool in this position. So I always wanted to try. And he has played every minute for Leverkusen since the under-21 Euros. So he is at the moment a tiny bit ahead.”
England completed their qualifying campaign with an eighth successive win.
The World Cup draw is in Washington on December 5 and the Three Lions are due to play two friendlies in March at home to Japan and Uruguay.
They will also play two warm-up games in Florida before the start of the World Cup.
England will not be able to confirm until after the draw but the squad is likely to be based in either Kansas City or Dallas.