The English national team dropped Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo, Tino Livramento, and Declan Rice on September 21, 2026, after medical evaluations confirmed physical injuries ahead of four Nations League matches. Coach Thomas Tuchel summoned James Garner and Morgan Gibbs-White to replace the sidelined players.
Roster changes and medical assessments
Palmer suffered a muscle issue at Chelsea, where he had scored four goals and provided two assists across seven appearances after previously sitting out the World Cup. Both Rashford and Mainoo picked up injuries during Manchester United’s 1-1 draw against Fulham in the Premier League, exiting the pitch at the 32nd and 35th minutes of the second half, respectively, while Livramento sustained his knock during a Newcastle training session. Tuchel acted swiftly.
The German manager must also navigate earlier fitness problems that already sidelined Ben White, Dan Burn, Dean Henderson, Reece James, John Stones, and Djed Spence.
Upcoming Nations League fixtures
England faces a demanding sequence of four international fixtures within the tournament calendar. The squad begins the campaign on home turf at Wembley Stadium before embarking on back-to-back travels across Europe.
- September 26, 2026: Spain at Wembley Stadium
- September 29, 2026: Czech Republic away
- October 3, 2026: Croatia away
- October 6, 2026: Czech Republic in the return clash
The opening clash marks England’s return to competitive action after finishing third at the World Cup. That Wembley encounter pits the English squad against European champion Spain. The team concludes the international window with the second encounter against the Czech Republic on October 6.