Phil Foden's furious neighbours have told the axed England star he 'doesn't own the street' after wild parties at his £3.5million Cheshire mansion – as his teammates gear up for the World Cup opener against Croatia.
Thomas Tuchel, the German boss, stunned fans and pundits with his squad selection, leaving Foden, Lewis Hall and Cole Palmer at home. And the 52-year-old is set to repeat that trick when he names his starting line-up on Wednesday.
“Phil Foden's neighbours furious as Tuchel drops Guehi for England's World Cup opener against Croatia.”
According to the BBC, sources have suggested Tuchel will name a team close to the one that beat Costa Rica 3-0, with goals from Anthony Gordon, Declan Rice and Ollie Watkins off the bench.
That means Marc Guehi, who many would argue is England's best centre-back, will be named on the bench, with John Stones and Ezri Konsa starting ahead of him. The report says there is an emerging feeling Tuchel prefers more physicality in his central defensive pairing – with Stones and Konsa bigger than Guehi.
If the Costa Rica friendly is anything to go by, Jude Bellingham is set to start over Morgan Rogers in the No10 role. Aston Villa's Rogers has been one of the standout players under Tuchel, but Bellingham has proven himself on the big stage, coming up with vital moments as England laboured to the final of Euro 2024.
Wing is also an area of debate. Gordon and Marcus Rashford offer important attributes off the left. On the right, Noni Madueke started ahead of Arsenal teammate Bukayo Saka, who is ahead of him in both the Gunners and Three Lions line-up. But Tuchel admitted Saka would need to be managed throughout the tournament.
Meanwhile, Foden's Cheshire neighbours have had enough. The Manchester City star's family could perhaps be forgiven for drowning their sorrows after he was left out of the World Cup squad, but the wild parties at his mansion have sparked fury. One neighbour reportedly told him he 'doesn't own the street'.
As England prepare to face Croatia in their World Cup opener, Tuchel's selection dilemmas – and Foden's absence – continue to dominate. Can the German boss bring football home after a 60-year drought, or will his shock decisions backfire?