Watch Tuchel news conference as England prepare for final friendly before WC squad announced

Summary

Watch and follow live coverage of Thomas Tuchel's England news conference before their friendly with Japan
Eight England players have withdrawn from the England camp including Adam Wharton and Noni Madueke who both picked up knocks on Friday
Tuchel says Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka both 'desperately wanted to play' but the risk was 'way too big' after medical assessments
He also says that he's 'not disappointed' with any player and it's the 'reality of the season, the reality of the end of March'
England face Japan at Wembley in their final friendly before the World Cup squad is announced on May 31
England drew 1-1 in an underwhelming friendly against Uruguay on Friday

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Written by Ben Ramsdale & Sean Byrne.

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Recap: Tuchel news conferencepublished at 12:45 BST
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And on that positive note... we're off.
But not before we leave you with a recap from Thomas Tuchel's news conference.
Lots of good stuff in there as always from the England boss, but here are some of the best bits:
- Tuchel said Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka "desperately wanted to play" in the friendly against Japan but the "risk was too big"
- On the large number of withdrawals, Tuchel claimed he was "not disappointed" with anyone and it's just the norm for this stage of a season
- He also said some of the injured players stayed to do their treatment in camp, which shows how much they enjoy being with the group
- Tuchel explained that John Stones "has a lot of credit in the bank" with him but emphasised that the defender must stay fit to be involved in the World Cup squad
- Finally, the England boss claimed that England "will be ready" for the World Cup come June
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Get Involved - 'No chance in the World Cup'published at 12:42 BST
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We will have no chance in the World Cup because we will turn up with completely exhausted players, most of whom will have played fifty or more games without a break.
Martin, Guildford

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Get Involved - 'Do not let the truth spoil the narrative'published at 12:38 BST
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All this talk of Arsenal players withdrawing when Tuchel himself said they were not fully fit and he did not want to risk them. But don’t let the truth spoil the narrative.
Saleem, London
Why is everyone only looking at Arsenal players withdrawing? What about all the other teams? Media only push the Arsenal agenda.
Danny, Boston
Everybody blaming Arsenal for withdrawing their players has obviously chosen to ignore the words of Tuchel, who clearly stated that they wanted to play and were sent home by the England medical staff after their own assessments. It's not Arsenal withdrawing the players...
Jack, Chelmsford
'I have got to keep my standards high' - Anderson on World Cup hopespublished at 12:35 BST
England v Japan (Tue, 19:45 BST)
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England midfielder Elliot Anderson on if he's confident that he will be starting number six for England in their first World Cup game: "I want it that way. I've got a full season left with Forest, plenty of time till then. I've got to keep my standards high and make sure it happens."
On partnership with Declan Rice: "It's really good. Since I've came him he's helped me feel comfortable, he's helped me learn on the job. The relationship on the pitch is really good.
"On and off the pitch, seeing the way he plays, I'm trying to learn from him."
On if he's distracted by his future at Nottingham Forest: "We have the World Cup this summer, my eyes are on that. Playing for England, I've got the badge on, that's all I'm thinking about at the moment."
On being in a relegation battle while representing England: "All the games are the same, I'm just going on the pitch and doing my best. Fight for whatever strip I have on, that's all I'm doing."
On competition for a starting spot: "We're all competing with each other but we're all really good mates. The competitiveness is there, but we're all really enjoying it."
Image source, Getty Images

Postpublished at 12:33 BST
Ben Ramsdale
BBC Sport
Scared to look at the inbox after pushing that group of texts through.
Open can meet worms.
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Get Involved - 'Not sus at all...'published at 12:29 BST
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Majority of Arsenal's 1st team all withdrawing from Internationals...not sus at all.
Garry, UK
Arsenal withdrawing their players with fake injuries again. Everyone knows they'll all be fit for their next club game. Simple solution is don't pick players who only show interest in the national team when the major tournaments come around and then expect to be the first name on the teamsheet.
Gary, London
So Arsenal players have withdrawn from multiple national teams - coincidence or Prem L title run in? If the later its shameful.
Paul, Waterlooville

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Get Involved - 'Refreshing from Tuchel'published at 12:24 BST
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It's quite refreshing to hear an international manager admit using unfit players in a friendly is a risk he was not willing to take. There are plenty who would pointlessly run them further into the ground without thought of future consequences for both club and country. Kudos Tommy Tukes!
Matt, York
'We will be ready' for World Cuppublished at 12:21 BST
England v Japan (Tue, 19:45 BST)
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England boss Thomas Tuchel on where England compare to other international teams like France: "I don't know. You cannot compare, you saw our line up and opponent, it's just March. We are happy with the way we have done our camp until now. I know it wasn't the nicest watch, but I know we played against a well coached side and best possible line up of Uruguay.
"We got a lot of things right, in most of the phases. We need to have these kind of tests now to get to know each other better. We have time to be prepared. Do you think Brazil will not be prepared in June? I think they will. Once you arrive, you don't think about March. We will be ready."

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Get Involved - 'Can't understand why James isn't a lock in midfield'published at 12:18 BST
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I can’t understand why Reece James isn’t a lock in midfield. He’s played most of the season there and, as an Arsenal fan, was utterly unplayable every time we faced him. Plenty of good players but James is the only truly world class partner for Rice.
Bill, London
'Top performance' needed to beat Japanpublished at 12:16 BST
England v Japan (Tue, 19:45 BST)
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England boss Thomas Tuchel on their friendly against Japan: "I like it a lot, I like the Japanese team. It's an honour to play them. We have two very interesting and different opponents, different mentalities and style of play. We were excited about it. The quality and the way Japan plays, one loss in 17 matches, very good run.
"You see the quality, we need to be ourselves and be on our top performance to win the game."
Image source, Getty Images

Watch live: Anderson speaking nowpublished at 12:14 BST
England v Japan (Tue, 19:45 BST)
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That's all from Thomas Tuchel but we've still got more quotes to bring your way from the England boss.
Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliott Anderson is up speaking now.
You can click 'watch live' once again to tune in and we'll bring you the best of what he has to say, too.
Stones 'big part of plans' but must stay fitpublished at 12:11 BST
England v Japan (Tue, 19:45 BST)
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England boss Thomas Tuchel was asked about where John Stones sits in his current thinking, with the Man City defender spending a lot of the season on the treatment table: "It's not ideal for John and for us. John was gutted he had this minor incident, not a big injury. Given the history we had to be careful, it made no sense to push him through and try stuff that could make it worse.
"He has a lot of credit with me in the bank, he is a key player for us as a starter or a substitute. His quality, his mentality and the personality, how he is, he is a big part of my plans still. Like everyone he has to be fit, there is no big exception for that. Let's wait how it plays out."

'Some of the injured players stayed to do treatment'published at 12:08 BST
England v Japan (Tue, 19:45 BST)
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More from Thomas Tuchel on the players released: "It helps them go back to clubs and perform. We want them to perform in their clubs, but it is also our last camp before America, so we want to reconnect to our principles. I'm not upset or angry with the players.
"I got the feeling that everyone was desperate to come. Some of the injured players even stayed to do their treatment, that shows they want to be around the group. No one left straight away, it's a good spirit and that's how it should be."
Tuchel 'not disappointed' with any player releasedpublished at 12:06 BST
England v Japan (Tue, 19:45 BST)
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England boss Thomas Tuchel on the number of players released: "Not disappointed with the players, disappointed with the fact. It's the reality of the season, the reality of the end of March, reality of players involved in more than one competition.
"We have players in camp that have already played more minutes than last season, so there is some concern. The players deserve the mental break from football, and we could see the energy with which they came back to camp in a new environment."
Image source, Getty Images

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Get Involved - 'Not good enough for England'published at 12:04 BST
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I still have concerns over Foden, Mainoo, Henderson, White and Solanke. They aren’t good enough for England and I feel for Trent, Gibbs-White, Alex Scott and Welbeck who have shown more consistency and quality this season.
Simon, Birmingham
England have 'options' away from Kanepublished at 12:02 BST
England v Japan (Tue, 19:45 BST)
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England boss Thomas Tuchel was asked if he is any clearer on his forward options, if Harry Kane is not available for the World Cup: "I have some ideas, but I will not make them public. I am happy Harry is back in camp, and he will lead the team tomorrow on the pitch.
"We have some options."

Rice and Saka 'desperately wanted to play'published at 12:00 BST
England v Japan (Tue, 19:45 BST)
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England boss Thomas Tuchel on Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka: "They wanted desperately to play to get the narrative straight, but it made no sense to make the risk.
"If it was the last game of the season we would have kept them, but in this moment of the season it did not make sense. The risk for making it was way too big.
"They were both clearly in discomfort when we did the medical assessment. It made absolutely no sense that they stayed."
On the rest of the players released: "Wharton had a little injury, more discomfort than a little injury. Everyone will be out for some days but not dramatically."
Late decision to be made on Stones pickpublished at 11:58 BST
England v Japan (Tue, 19:45 BST)
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John Stones has "a lot of credit in the bank with me," says England boss Thomas Tuchel.
He adds that his fitness this season makes picking him "not ideal" and ultimately, he will need to be fit to be picked in his final squad.
Full quotes to follow...
Image source, Getty Images

'Risk was too big' to play Saka and Ricepublished at 11:55 BST
England v Japan (Tue, 19:45 BST)
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England boss Thomas Tuchel says Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice desperately wanted to play against Japan but "the risk was way too big."
He adds that he is not disappointed that players have dropped out, stating that this is just the reality at this stage of the season.
Full quotes to follow...
'None of them were able to stay'published at 11:53 BST
England v Japan (Tue, 19:45 BST)
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England boss Thomas Tuchel on players leaving the squad: "I think you have the list already. There is nothing more to add from me, I am not a medial expert. We had an assessment after the match, none of them were able to stay and add minutes so we released them."