credit: Imago

Max Wilkins

Fri 14 March 2025 9:50, UK

England manager Thomas Tuchel has come under fire from Tottenham fans after naming his first squad in charge at Wembley.

The German head coach was confirmed as Three Lions head coach back in October and finally looks set to kick off his international management career.

The 51-year-old has now announced his squad for a World Cup Qualifier double header with his maiden clash coming on Friday (21 March) against Albania.

Certain selections from Tuchel have raised eyebrows across the country with one omission resulting in an angry reaction from the Spurs faithful.

Djed Spence snubbed from England squad

There is no doubt that the 24-year-old has been one of the best full-backs in the entire Premier League this campaign.

Despite coming into the season out of the Europa League squad and likely to be second or even third choice in North London, the ex-QPR man has certainly established himself now.

Now the Englishman is one of the most highly appreciated men in the Lilywhites’ squad and has managed to keep his place despite the return of Destiny Udogie from injury.

That, combined with his ability to play on either flank, meant that many Spurs fans saw him as a shoo-in for the Three Lions’ squad this month, but that isn’t the case.

The decision to call up Kyle Walker and Myles Lewis Skelly has left one supporter baffled as they took to X (14 March) to call the decision “outrageous”.

Another described it as “a shocker” after suggesting that Spence had been “the best fullback in the country for the last two months.”

This was once again echoed as another fan from N17 regarded this choice as “an absolute shambles of a decision.”

Despite widespread negativity about the defender’s omission, one supporter has seen the bright side of how this could benefit Ange Postecoglou moving forward.

They said: “Thinking with my Spurs cap on, he won’t get injured on international duty.”

Spence deserves England chance after Tottenham form

Given the adversity the fullback has gone through since moving to North London, his form this season is highly commendable.

There aren’t many players who could deal with the criticism and lack of chances that Spence has and still managed to turn things around.

The former Nottingham Forest loanee has been superb this season and that should have culminated in an England call up before the end of the season.

That isn’t the case now, which will come as a blow, especially with the likes of Dan Burn earning a spot, but it is unlikely to affect the Spurs man.

He has dealt with too much already during his time in N17 to let this impact him.

This may go on to inspire him even further to take another step up and give Tuchel no choice but to include him in his next squad.