Richards Backs England's World Cup Prospects, But Rues Foden Omission from Tuchel's Squad

Micah Richards has offered his assessment of England's chances heading into the 2026 World Cup, while expressing disappointment at one notable absentee from Thomas Tuchel's squad selection.

The Three Lions will kick off their campaign in Arlington, Texas against Croatia, before taking on Ghana and Panama in Group L. Having swept through qualifying with a perfect record—eight wins, 22 goals scored and a clean sheet throughout—Gareth Southgate's successors arrive among the tournament's elite, currently fourth in the FIFA World Rankings behind Argentina, France and Spain.

Richards, who earned 13 caps for England between 2006 and 2012 during his time at Manchester City, sees genuine potential in Tuchel's setup. "I think England have got a real chance – there's serious talent in that squad with Kane, Saka, Bellingham, Rice and so forth, but there's some incredibly good sides they'll have to face and they'll need some luck," the 37-year-old explained. "We have to also remember, it'll be a real challenge to adapt to the heat and the challenging conditions."

However, Richards wasn't entirely convinced by every selection decision. "There's always a couple you look at and think they've been a little unlucky," he noted. "I had hoped to see Phil Foden get a call up as I think he's a special player. Cole Palmer may count himself a little unfortunate too, as can Morgan Gibbs-White after such an excellent season."

Despite these reservations, Richards acknowledged the manager's unenviable task. "It's not easy – we've got so many talented players and Tuchel has picked the squad he will believe gives us the best chance of winning."

From Chaos to Fourth Place

Away from international matters, Richards has been gaining hands-on coaching experience in rather different circumstances. The former defender recently served as assistant manager at Warley FC, a Sunday League outfit from Essex who had earned the dubious distinction of being labelled the country's worst team after a calamitous 2024/25 season—18 defeats from 20 matches and 81 goals conceded.

Working with the club during the 25/26 campaign, Richards helped orchestrate a remarkable turnaround. The team won 10 of their final 12 games to finish fourth, a transformation Richards found deeply rewarding. "As assistant manager, I loved working with the lads on some small changes that made a big impact on the pitch," he said. "Communication was a big thing for them. When I started, they weren't talking enough to each other, and their fitness needed some work, but James Milner gave us a bit of help with that."

Richards credited his focus on fundamentals and mentality. "I'd say I tried to bring a bit of structure to the chaos – helped with the mindset side of things, talked through some ideas around how we set up. I'd like to think I brought some energy and a fresh pair of eyes. When I look at where the club started, four points, and where they ended up, fourth in the league, it's unbelievable and a real testament to them."

The shift was palpable both in results and atmosphere. "Something clicked and you could see it on the pitch too, not just the table. The mentality shifted. The lads started believing. The lads were brilliant to work with, and we've shared moments I'll never forget."

What struck Richards most was the commitment on display. "The team's commitment blew me away. These lads are, of course, only playing Sunday League for the love of the game, and still turning up and giving everything for the club – it's proper passion. That's without considering how much work goes on behind the scenes just to keep things running. From being statistically one of the worst teams in the country, to turning it around and finishing fourth in their division is something they should be proud about."

The turnaround even extended to lifestyle changes. "With a little help from the likes of Jonny Marsh, James Milner and Joe Cole, they went from kebabs and pints to salads and electrolytes in no time!" Richards laughed.

As for his coaching future, Richards has clearly caught the bug. "It's given me a real respect for coaching at every level – it's not easy! After the success at Warley, who knows what my future coaching roles look like!"