Tuchel: Burn Over Branthwaite Was Maybe a 51% Call
Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite watched England's win over Croatia from the bench, and Thomas Tuchel has now explained why. He says choosing Dan Burn instead was a near-even decision.
Madrid next, and who played
Branthwaite will be hoping for game time in England's final Group C game, away to Spain in Madrid. The opponents are the world and European champions, though England have already qualified for the Nations League quarter-finals.
Branthwaite is one of three Everton players with Tuchel's squad. Against Croatia he was an unused substitute. James Garner came on 13 minutes before the end of normal time, and Jordan Pickford played from start to finish.
Why Burn got the nod
Tuchel pointed to the shape of the game. England had changes in the back four and new partnerships, and Burn plays in a similar style that carries him into the opponents' half. He had done that alongside Lewis Hall and Anthony Gordon, and for Eddie Howe in the Champions League. Tuchel felt that approach could help the new-look defence.
Burn came into camp late, Tuchel said, but is a fantastic person to have around and a standard-setter in training. On leaving Branthwaite out, he said: "We opted for him, and it was maybe a 51% decision between him and Jarrad."
Burn started at the heart of the defence beside Jarell Quansah, called up after Marc Guehi's withdrawal. Harry Kane marked a men's record 126th England appearance with a goal at Wembley, and Morgan Rogers also scored in the 2-1 win.
Coleman and Ireland
There is another Everton story from the international window. Seamus Coleman is currently without a club, and his 17-year playing career at Everton finished with last season.
He was not in the 24-man Republic of Ireland squad for the Nations League games against Austria and Kosovo, as expected. Manager Heimir Hallgrimsson said last week that Coleman would still join the group in a hybrid role, working with the management team while taking part in some training.
Coleman will not feature against Austria in Linz. Hallgrimsson did not rule him out for Kosovo in Dublin on Tuesday, saying that could be answered after the Austria game. He also said Ireland have five players on a yellow card and may need to call in players.
Assistant manager John O'Shea praised Coleman's impact and said the former Everton man has had a few approaches and conversations with clubs, but it has probably not felt right for him. "Seamus has earned a right to make that decision when and where he feels that it's best for him," O'Shea said.
Source: Liverpool Echo