England have confirmed that four players have departed the squad following their involvement in the World Cup warm up matches as Thomas Tuchel’s side step up their preparations for Croatia.
Alex Scott, Ethan Nwaneri, Rio Ngumoha and Josh King have all left the squad following their participation in the warm up matches. Head coach Thomas Tuchel chose to bring in the four young talents to bolster the ranks during the team’s stay in Florida.
The Three Lions are set to jet off to their base in Kansas City on Saturday as they shift their focus to their tournament opener against Croatia on Wednesday night.
Three warm up games
In the run up to the match, the squad played three warm up games. England secured a 1-0 victory over New Zealand last Saturday, before delivering a dominant 3-0 triumph over Costa Rica on Wednesday night.
The third game was a behind closed doors friendly against Miami FC at England’s training ground, with reports indicating a resounding 6-0 win. Both Nwaneri and Ngumoha found the back of the net.
A post on England’s official social media channels featured a photo of all four players, accompanied by a message: “An important part of our preparations so far. Thanks to Alex Scott, Ethan Nwaneri, Rio Ngumoha and Josh King who depart at the conclusion of our camp in Florida.”
Tuchel’s reasoning
Upon announcing the four players joining the squad, Tuchel explained his reasoning.
“We will take some young players out who will train with us in the size of the squad that we need, and we have the two friendly matches to take care of the minutes and the load on the players,” he stated.
“I’m happy to have these players, especially Alex Scott who was on the list of 55 and obviously he didn’t make the first cut. But the reaction of him was outstanding. The commitment and wish to be in pre camp and a step closer to the team was not even a question for him.
“That showed me his character and I’m delighted he’ll be with us because that was a close call and he gets a chance to get a step closer and a cap.”
The bottom line
Four young players. Three warm up games. A World Cup camp experience that none of them will forget.
Scott, Nwaneri, Ngumoha and King are heading home. But they leave with valuable experience, goals on the board, and the knowledge that Tuchel has his eye on them.
The senior squad now jets off to Kansas City. Croatia awaits. The real business is about to begin.
For the four departures, this was a taste of what could come. If they continue to impress in the Premier League, further England call ups are sure to follow.
The future looks bright. But for now, the focus is on Croatia. And England’s World Cup campaign starts now.
