Newcastle United defender Tino Livramento has been excluded from England’s matchday squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifier against Latvia at Wembley Stadium, as announced by senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel.
The 22-year-old, who earned his first senior England cap, was an unused substitute during the Three Lions’ 2-0 victory over Albania on Friday.
England manager Thomas Tuchel, tasked with navigating UEFA’s 23-man matchday squad limit from his initial 26-man selection, emphasized the importance of squad balance over sheer talent. “We have to get the process right to find the best group,” Tuchel stated.
“If that means we leave very good and talented players out of the squad this can happen. In the next 16 months it is important we find the right team and not the most talented 26 players. We need to get the team right. We need to get the team spirit right because it’s one thing to play qualifiers, it’s another thing to play tournament football.”
Livramento’s omission is part of Tuchel’s strategy to refine his squad, as Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White and Liverpool defender Jarrel Quansah return to the lineup after missing the Albania fixture.
Conversely, Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon, who returned to his club due to injury, has been dropped from the squad. Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale also finds himself excluded once again.
