Eight players leave England camp ahead of Japan friendly
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England's Dominic Calvert-Lewin after their March 27 match against Uruguay.
PHOTO: ACTION IMAGES VIA REUTERS
- England's squad is depleted after eight players left due to injuries and health issues before the Japan friendly on March 31.
- Key players like Ramsdale, Tomori, Calvert-Lewin, Stones, Wharton, Madueke, Rice, and Saka have departed the camp.
- FIFA's expanded 26-player World Cup squad helps England, who face Croatia, Ghana, and Panama in Group L, starting June 17.
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LONDON - England boss Thomas Tuchel will have no choice but to ring the changes ahead of their March 31 friendly with Japan at Wembley Stadium, after eight players left the camp on March 28 with a variety of health issues and injury concerns.
Having drawn 1-1 with Uruguay in a friendly on March 27, the FA announced the departures on March 28 after several players picked up knocks and injuries, causing changes to the 35-man squad selected by Tuchel for the current international break.
Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, Fikayo Tomori and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are among the departures, with defender John Stones returning to Manchester City after picking up an injury prior to the March 27 game, while Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace) and Noni Madueke (Arsenal) were both injured in the friendly.
Madueke’s Arsenal teammates Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka have also returned to the North London club.
FIFA has expanded the squad size at World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada this year to 26 players.
England take on Croatia, Ghana and Panama in Group L, kicking off against the Croatians in Arlington, Texas on June 17. REUTERS
