Tuchel lifts the lid on Mainoo and Maguire England calls as he delivers blunt Luke Shaw verdict

England boss Thomas Tuchel has revealed the thinking behind his decision to recall Manchester United duo Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo, while also explaining why Luke Shaw was left out. England announcement Earlier on Friday, Tuchel announced his England squad for the Wembley friendlies against Uruguay and Japan. Tuchel named an enlarged squad of 35 players, picking almost two groups for the games in an effort to give playing opportunities to fringe players and afford more resting time to more established stars at this stage of the season. United fans were waiting with bated breath to find out which of their players would be selected and Maguire and Mainoo were restored to the team after lengthy absences. Both players have been rewarded for their impressive form under Michael Carrick. Here we go. It’s your #ThreeLions squad for March camp! 👀 — England (@England) March 20, 2026 Maguire and Mainoo have started all nine games that Carrick has taken charge of since he was named Ruben Amorim’s temporary replacement. It’s the first time that the pair have been called up to an England squad by Tuchel since he took charge of the Three Lions in January 2025. Maguire won the last of his 64 England caps under Lee Carsley against the Republic of Ireland in September 2024. Mainoo was a key player for England under Gareth Southgate during the Euros, starting in the final defeat against Spain. However, his last appearance for the national team came in the same Ireland match as Maguire. For Shaw, though, there was heartbreak after he was left out. Tuchel explains his decisions Breaking down his United choices, Tuchel said [as quoted by club media], “It’s good to make the point I have nothing against Manchester United. It’s just to acknowledge the achievement of Manchester United, as a team.” “I think they have had an outstanding run since Michael Carrick is in charge. Harry and Kobbie have been a big part of that.” “So, it’s like I said, the last camp before the US and the last chance also, for me, to get to know new players and to learn about new players. Kobbie is one of them, Harry is not a new player in an England shirt, of course, but is new to me in a camp.” “I want to see them around other players, I want to feel them around the pitch and see what they are capable of, and learn about them, and then will make a clear decision in May.” On Shaw’s omission, Tuchel remarked, “These tough decisions come with the job.” The German coach added, “It’s our last camp, the last opportunity to impress and the last opportunity for players to compete for their ticket.” “We decided to kind of split it into two camps. We invited 19 outfield players and four goalkeepers into the first part of the camp, meaning, until the match against Uruguay, we will give these players a real chance to impress and a real chance to compete for minutes against Uruguay, impress against Uruguay, and then, of course, also compete for their ticket to the World Cup.” United loanee Marcus Rashford has also been called up. The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!