Revealing why "Kobe Menu" missed playing for England in the 2026 World Cup.,
Media reports reveal that Menu missed playing in the 2026 World Cup with England because his training did not impress Tuchel.
Kobe Menu was one of the few players in the England national team under Thomas Tuchel's management who did not play a single minute in the 2026 World Cup.
He was one of England's most influential players during their run to the Euro 2024 final and was selected for the England squad for the 2026 World Cup due to his outstanding performance at the end of the 2025-26 season.
The 21-year-old had a difficult time at Manchester United under Ruben Amorim but gained more playing opportunities when Michael Carrick became the new manager at Old Trafford.
Menu was one of the five midfielders Tuchel selected for this World Cup, alongside Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, and Jordan Henderson.
Therefore, it was no surprise that Rice and Anderson started as Tuchel's two main midfield choices in the World Cup, with Rice having just helped Arsenal win the Premier League and Anderson performing well enough to transfer to Manchester City for £116 million.
However, Tuchel still overlooked Menu, even though Arsenal's midfielder was struggling with persistent injuries and was ill during the quarterfinal match where England defeated Norway.
Chelsea right-back Reece James was chosen to play in midfield instead of Menu, who appeared increasingly frustrated as the tournament went on and was often the first player to leave the pitch after nearly every game, according to the English Daily Mail.
Reports say Tuchel tried pairing Menu and Anderson as midfield partners during group stage training when it was clear Rice was having problems.
There was a sense within the team that Menu would get playing time, but reports indicate Tuchel was unimpressed with what he saw in training and decided to select other players over Menu.
Many experts believe Menu is a midfielder capable of controlling possession and the game, making him an ideal option to halt Argentina's attacks. However, he was ultimately unused, and England lost 1-2 to Argentina, missing the chance to reach the final in a heartbreaking defeat.