- Thomas Tuchel held "clear-the-air" talks with Ivan Toney regarding his commitment in last year's June camp before recalling him for the 2026 World Cup squad.
- Tuchel explained that Toney's selection over Dominic Calvert-Lewin was due to his physical presence, ability to draw attention from other strikers, set-piece contributions, and penalty-taking skills.
- The England manager conducted thorough background checks on Toney, including sending an assistant coach to observe him and consulting his club manager.
- Tuchel expressed surprise and deemed Harry Maguire's public statement after being dropped from the squad as "not necessary."
- Tuchel contacted all 50 players previously in the camp, plus Luke Shaw, and noted that player reactions to disappointment influenced his decisions; psychologists are also monitoring team communication.
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