Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad announcement has prompted sharp debate over England’s midfield composition. The depth of options is clear, but several high-profile omissions and a handful of trusted inclusions have defined the list.

Cole Palmer is the absence attracting most attention. Once considered a near-certain pick for North America, an injury-hit start to the 2025–26 campaign interrupted his rhythm. He never fully recovered amid the chaos at Stamford Bridge and has been brutally axed by ex-Blues boss Tuchel.

Nottingham Forest talisman Morgan Gibbs-White was also left out despite a remarkable goalscoring campaign; the 26-year-old appeared to have hit form at the perfect time. Manchester City’s Phil Foden is another notable absentee. Deeper in midfield, Adam Wharton’s omission surprised many after another fine season at Crystal Palace. Strong campaigns from Bournemouth’s Alex Scott and Everton’s James Garner likewise went unrewarded.

Conor Gallagher and Curtis Jones, who have featured in previous squads, were judged not convincing enough this time. James Maddison never stood a chance after missing almost the entirety of the term through injury.

Jordan Henderson’s selection has drawn widespread ire. The 35-year-old is not even a guaranteed starter for Brentford, yet Tuchel has included him for his off-field character and leadership. “He’s unlikely to see too much game time, but he’s a valuable presence in the dressing room.” Whether that presence justifies a place is open to debate.

Among those who did make the cut, Kobbie Mainoo’s technical ability and progressive ball-carrying mark him out as a valuable midfield option after his Euro 2024 breakthrough. Ruben Amorim’s handling of the Manchester United youngster briefly threatened his place, but Michael Carrick’s subsequent reinvigoration returned him to consideration.

Eberechi Eze, typically deployed on the left wing for England but by trade an attacking midfielder, and Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, a powerful and direct attacking option, offer distinct profiles. Elliot Anderson’s early England impact suggested he can bridge defence and attack, providing the kind of transitional mettle England may need at a major tournament.

Michael Carrick has articulated a clear mandate after being confirmed as Manchester United’s permanent manager. His initial comments underline an awareness of the club’s expectations and of where success must be measured.

In recent years Liverpool have matched United’s record of 20 English league championships. Manchester City have risen to 10 all-time titles, having been on just three when Ferguson lifted his final trophy 13 years ago. Those shifts in the domestic landscape frame the scale of the task Carrick inherits.

United have not been in a position to seriously challenge for a long time, yet the transformation Carrick has overseen since returning to Old Trafford as interim boss in January has been described as monumental. No Premier League team has matched United for Premier League points—36 from a possible 48 across 16 matches—during that period.

“[Winning titles is] where we want to be as a club and it’s not even so much for me. It’d be an incredible thing for me to be able to do, but just to see this club lifting trophies and winning leagues and challenging for Champions Leagues, that’s the buzz,” Carrick said in his first interview with his new title, speaking to ex-teammate Wayne Rooney for a special of the club’s in-house podcast .

“That’s what gets us out of bed every morning and [we want to] enjoy the grind of the summer and come back stronger for next season.”

The expectations at Manchester United remain exacting. Louis van Gaal and José Mourinho did ensure the club lifted three trophies in the first four years after Ferguson’s retirement, but neither came close to winning the Premier League and neither avoided being fired. That history is a reminder of the high bar Carrick must clear if his tenure is to be judged a success.

Carrick’s early record since January gives him a platform. The task now is to convert that momentum into sustained title bids and continental progress while meeting the standards the club and its supporters demand.

Manchester United’s second goal in Sunday’s 3–2 win over Nottingham Forest has become the centre of a rules debate after refereeing chief Howard Webb said it should not have counted. Matheus Cunha applied the finish that put United 2–1 ahead after a period of Forest pressure, but the decisive sequence began with Bryan Mbeumo’s shot.

Mbeumo’s effort was blocked and rebounded to Cunha after the Cameroonian forward had used his arm, albeit accidentally, to get the ball under control. The ball became trapped between Mbeumo’s hip and arm, which stopped it passing him. When Cunha found the bottom corner, celebrations were hesitant even though referee Michael Salisbury signalled for a goal.

A VAR intervention delayed the game for around three minutes and recommended the on-field official take another look. Commentating live for Sky Sports at the time, ex-United captain Gary Neville described the decision as “an absolute shocker in every single way.” The on-field decision remained unchanged and the referee announcement was clear: “After review, the decision of goal stands because the handball offence is accidental, therefore the final decision is goal.”

The issue rests on how the laws are applied. Only deliberate handball—“moving the hand/arm towards the ball”—is automatically an offense. Crucially, however, a player who “touches the ball with their hand/arm when it has made their body unnaturally bigger” is also deemed guilty of handball. Even though Mbeumo had no intention of using his arm in that moment, that it touched the ball in that position is still considered handball.

That distinction underpins the controversy. For Nottingham Forest there is an added frustration: had Mbeumo scored from his original shot before it was blocked and fell to Cunha, the decision to disallow the goal would have been far easier. The sequence leaves questions about interpretation and consistency in future VAR handball reviews.