Vice-captain Rice, Palmer, Kobbie Mainoo, Rashford and Livramento are all absent. From any angle, the withdrawal of so many players from the England squad is not an ideal situation for Thomas Tuchel. The large number of players declining to report suggests that England's priorities have once again been relegated to secondary status. The Telegraph has highlighted that with so many key players withdrawing, questions are inevitably raised about the relationship between Tuchel and his squad. Following England's heavy defeat to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final, Tuchel faces the challenge of rebuilding trust with his players. Since taking charge, Tuchel has consistently emphasised "team spirit" within the squad, but now fans are questioning the authenticity of his words.

Tuchel has continually stressed that he has built so-called "team spirit" within the squad during his tenure, and now that claim rings somewhat hollow. Is this assessment overly harsh? Each player's situation should be considered individually and objectively rather than grouped together, as it would be unfair to lump them all into one category.

Four Nations League matches are scheduled over the next three weeks. The withdrawals of all these players have been confirmed by England's medical team, and the official reasons are all physical injuries, which we should accept.

However, one frequently cited term in football has emerged: load management. The absences of Rice and Palmer are also attributed to this concept. Simply put, it involves assessing a player's total minutes played, predicting injury risk, and avoiding the dangers of overuse.

Palmer was rested over the summer, but Chelsea's reasoning was that his fixture list at the start of the season is particularly congested, and the club does not want him to suffer an injury.

This rationale sounds entirely reasonable. However, Palmer desperately needs to prove himself and secure his place in the England squad, yet he will miss all four matches. This decision seems somewhat excessive.

Given the unprecedented fixture congestion and the physical demands placed on players, "load management" will be discussed increasingly throughout this season.

This issue strikes at the heart of a growing tension: the escalating conflict between England's coaching staff and the medical departments of various clubs. We witnessed this tension explode entirely during the previous season with Enzo Maresca's sacking at Chelsea.

Tuchel must be thoroughly frustrated, and may even feel disrespected. Did the load management issue suddenly emerge after the recent Premier League round, or has it been known for some time that certain players need rest? Has communication between the FA and clubs been sufficient?

It is difficult not to speculate: if the Premier League were being played this weekend instead of England's Nations League matches, these players would almost certainly be available. Of course, this is merely speculation. But could they truly not play even one or two matches over the next three weeks?

Palmer and Rice both played the full 90 minutes in their clubs' matches this weekend; Rashford and Mainoo played 77 and 80 minutes respectively for Manchester United. Rashford has been troubled by a minor but recurring hip issue, while Carrick stated that Mainoo's substitution was a tactical choice.

The Telegraph reported on Friday that following England's heavy defeat to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final, Tuchel faces the challenge of rebuilding trust with his players.

Not all five players withdrawing this time were part of the World Cup squad – three of them did not even go to the World Cup. However, the absence of so many key players certainly raises questions about the relationship between the head coach and his players, as well as players' willingness to represent England.

Palmer did not participate in the World Cup; Mainoo was called up but did not play a single minute; Rashford was named in the squad but his playing time was limited; Livramento withdrew due to injury before the tournament began; Rice played throughout the World Cup while carrying an injury. No one can doubt that Rice genuinely has a physical workload issue.

However, these England matches are far from inconsequential friendlies or lower-tier fixtures. Although this is the Nations League rather than Euro qualifying, England will face world and European champions Spain on Saturday, followed by away matches against the Czech Republic and Croatia, and then a home match against the Czech Republic. The team needs to perform well, and so does Tuchel. These matches represent a platform to demonstrate commitment and prove that Tuchel is the right man to lead this team.

With nearly 20% of the initial squad absent, this raises a concern: has England returned to the old era when club interests come first and the national team is relegated to secondary status – an era that was not so long ago?

Regardless of how one assesses Gareth Southgate's tactical management, he made considerable and effective efforts to reverse this trend. He worked to make representing England less of a burden, to transform playing for England into an enjoyable experience rather than a gruelling obligation, and to make players willing to answer England's call.

As a player, Southgate directly experienced the problem of club factionalism, which had seriously hampered England's performances.

While Tuchel has consistently promoted "team spirit" within the squad, has he done enough to preserve the spiritual legacy that Southgate left behind?

If these five players' injuries are not serious, and some are primarily absent due to load management considerations, then their complete withdrawal from this England camp is difficult to justify. A compromise solution would be to rest this week and then return for the final two matches; or at least train for a period to integrate into the team's training environment.

Some national teams, such as Germany under Jürgen Klopp, have assembled two separate squads to manage these four Nations League matches and the extended international break. The congested fixture schedule damages both the mental and physical well-being of players.

Tuchel also considered a similar plan but ultimately abandoned it. This choice is understandable. However, the reality is clear: a large number of players have declined, and regardless of whether this external perception is fair, England's priorities have once again been placed second.

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