Palmer and Rice withdraw from England squad as Gibbs-White and Garner called up

Five withdrawals force Tuchel reshuffle

Thomas Tuchel will be without Declan Rice, Cole Palmer and Marcus Rashford for England’s upcoming Nations League fixtures after a quintet of players withdrew from the squad.

Cole Palmer, who missed out on England’s World Cup squad, had been selected by Tuchel for the Three Lions’ Nations League matches and had already registered four Premier League goal involvements this season with two goals and two assists. The Chelsea playmaker has now opted out of the squad as he nurses an injury.

Rice is also out through injury. He joins Marcus Rashford, Tino Livramento and Kobbie Mainoo in withdrawing from international duty.

Gibbs-White and Garner come in

Tuchel has called up Nottingham Forest attacker Morgan Gibbs-White and Everton midfielder James Garner as replacements.

No player has scored more Premier League goals in 2026 than Gibbs-White, who is level with Erling Haaland on 13 goals. The 25-year-old will now get a chance to impress against world champions Spain.

Garner made his England debut during the March international window and impressed against Uruguay and Japan, but missed out on a call-up for the World Cup. He returns for the double-header against Czechia either side of the clash with Croatia.