Thomas Tuchel drops Tottenham star; England boss demands higher standards

The incident in question occurred after Tottenham’s home defeat to Chelsea, when Spence and Micky van de Ven left the pitch without acknowledging Frank. The pair stormed down the tunnel as Spurs put in a disappointing performance against their London rivals, with the manager’s post-match attempts at communication ignored.

Frank Accepts Apology From Tottenham Pair

According to Football London, Tuchel spoke to the Daily Mail ahead of the Albania fixture and explained his disappointment with Spence’s actions. The German emphasized that players represent their country constantly, not just during international camps, and that behavioral standards must be maintained regardless of circumstances. He stated (h/t Football London via Daily Mail):

“Yeah, I didn’t like it. Because the players know they are not only national players when they are the 10 days in camp, they are always national players and the standard of behaviour is always important.”

Frank has since confirmed that both Spence and Van de Ven apologized for the incident. The Tottenham manager revealed the pair came to his office unprompted the following day to express their regret, clarifying they had no intention of appearing disrespectful toward him, the team, or the club.

The duo explained their actions were not meant to look bad in what Frank described as this ‘beautiful media world‘, acknowledging how easily perceptions can be misinterpreted. Frank accepted their apology ahead of Tottenham’s Champions League clash against FC Copenhagen in early November.

Tuchel Rotates Squad for Final Qualifier

England have already secured qualification for next summer’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico with their perfect record. Tuchel has maintained eight clean sheets from his nine games in charge since taking over on January 1, building impressive momentum ahead of the tournament.

The German has rotated his squad for tonight’s match in Tirana, with Spence named among the substitutes. Harry Kane starts as captain after being rested for the Serbia fixture, while Nico O’Reilly starts at left-back with Jarell Quansah and John Stones partnering in central defence.

Tuchel’s public comments about Spence’s behaviour send a clear message about expectations. The Albania fixture represents England’s final competitive match of 2025 before they reconvene ahead of the World Cup finals.