Postecoglou Confident Maddison and Spence Will Secure Spots in Tuchel’s Upcoming England Squad

Tottenham Hotspur’s manager, Ange Postecoglou, addressed the media ahead of this Sunday’s clash with Fulham. The Australian coach expressed his belief that both Djed Spence and James Maddison should earn a spot in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad, following its recent announcement.

Following a spectacular comeback against AZ Alkmaar on Thursday night, Spurs are brimming with confidence as they head to Craven Cottage. Postecoglou provided an optimistic update on the team’s news prior to the match.

“Everything is looking pretty good. There were no issues from last night. Everyone came through unscathed, and there are no returning players just yet. Reguilon and Werner are back in the mix, as is Rodrigo Bentancur. So, all in all, it’s positive news.”

Both Spence and Maddison were omitted from the England squad announced earlier today by the new head coach, Thomas Tuchel. Postecoglou acknowledged that team selection is often subject to scrutiny but maintained that his players will earn their places through consistent performances.

“I can’t comment too much on that. I am quite critical myself when others question my decisions since every manager has access to all the necessary information.

“Maddison has persevered through a tough season for us, and his quality has really shone through in the past few weeks—especially when we’ve had the opportunity to give him some rest. I felt last night he was pivotal for our attack while also putting in the hard yards for the team.”

“Djed has been exceptional this season. With matters like national team selection, there’s never a definitive answer.

“If Djed continues to perform as he has and Maddison keeps pushing, I’m confident Thomas will be evaluating his squads and both players could certainly be in contention moving forward.”

Discussions then shifted to Lucas Bergvall and his physical development, which has been a topic of considerable talk in recent months.

“Everyone has been working with him—the coaches, and he himself has put in the effort. He hasn’t left Deki’s side since joining, and Deki is often in the gym. He is a fantastic role model, and if nothing else, Deki has motivated him to work hard on his game.

“Lucas is also an outstanding technical player. His technical skills remain his greatest asset. It’s important to remember that he has only just turned 19.”

“He’s still quite young, and as he continues to build his physicality to meet the Premier League standards—especially in midfield—if he combines that physical capacity with his technical skills, we will have a promising player on our hands.”

Postecoglou then elaborated on Bergvall’s discipline, indicating it’s just one area where the club has provided support since his arrival to help him develop as a player.

“He’s had to focus on that. It’s fair to say that when he first joined, the coaches dedicated a lot of time to improve his tactical awareness and discipline. A critical quality we look for in players is their ability to be coached, absorb information, and then apply it to enhance their game. He has definitely embraced that. 

“Initially, it took him some time. He tended to expend too much energy. I recall a few of his early European matches where he simply ran out of juice because he was overextending himself.

“He sometimes overcomplicated the game but has now simplified his approach thanks to the feedback from the coaches, and he’s taken it all on board.”