Tuchel would never rule out players not in top flight

England manager Thomas Tuchel has indicated that he would not dismiss the possibility of selecting players who are not currently in the top flight for their clubs, should Manchester City face sanctions following a financial regulatory breach. The Premier League's independent commission found City guilty of all charges related to financial rule violations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.

Despite denying guilt, City has appealed the verdict, claiming it contains significant legal, principle, and factual errors. Potential sanctions against the club include league expulsion, points deductions, and fines. City's current players Elliot Anderson and Marc Guehi, as well as former player Nico O'Reilly, are part of the England squad, which is composed of athletes representing top leagues in their respective countries.

Tuchel emphasized that he would aim to field the strongest possible team for each match, without exclusions based on league status. He stated, "I would always try to pick the best team for the camp, for the occasion, for the tournament." Tuchel also mentioned that discussions about the City verdict were a frequent topic among the England players, but he did not want to contribute further to the debate.