Tuchel to name first England squad for Andorra and Serbia qualifiers

Thomas Tuchel will name his first England squad of the season on Friday, August 29, ahead of World Cup qualifiers at home to Andorra on September 6 and away to Serbia on September 9, the Football Association said. The announcement will be followed by a 2pm news conference at a Wembley-area hotel after the FA moved the event from the stadium because of ongoing concert dates.

England head into the international window top of Group K with a perfect qualifying record from three matches, but Tuchel inherits a squad disrupted by injuries and a turbulent June doubleheader that ended with boos from travelling supporters. The mood was soured after a muted 1-0 win over Andorra in Barcelona was followed three days later by a 3-1 friendly defeat to Senegal at Nottingham Forests City Ground, the national team’s first loss to African opposition.

Tuchel is expected to be without several key players. Reports say Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham underwent shoulder surgery after the Club World Cup and will miss the fixtures, while Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka is sidelined with a hamstring problem sustained in the club’s win over Leeds. Chelsea’s Cole Palmer missed his club’s game at West Ham...