Gone are the days when the England national team boasted a Lilywhite core.
Once upon a time, Mauricio Pochettino's array of burgeoning young talent in north London were regarded as the keys to finally bringing football home.
Kyle Walker, Danny Rose, Eric Dier, Dele Alli, Kieran Trippier, and, of course, Harry Kane were among those who represented the Three Lions amid Poch's nostalgically precious reign.
Tottenham's influence at St. George's Park has gradually been eroded, especially after Kane departed for Germany in 2023. England, admittedly, haven't suffered, but for fans, seeing those brought up in N17 fulfil the dream of representing their country is something that sparks pride within.
The current Spurs squad, as poorly as its performed domestically over the past two years, is laden with internationals. However, only one has been able to work his way into Thomas Tuchel's thinking for the 2026 World Cup.
Djed Spence keeps place in England squad; Archie Gray omitted
The "Archie Gray for England" hype train was perhaps too late to depart. The 20-year-old has been subject to the most difficult of circumstances since joining the club, with his versatility exploited by multiple managers.
He spent much of last season admirably filling in at the heart of Tottenham's defence, and has also enjoyed stints at both full-back positions. Things haven't been perfect, with some unconvinced by the supposed talent he arrived in north London with, but Gray has done plenty to hush a few naysayers in recent weeks.
Crucially, the kid has displayed impressive character in trying times. His effort has never wavered, and sure, that's certainly not enough to catch Tuchel's eye (unless you're Jordan Henderson). Still, the German must've been intrigued by the level of performance Gray produced against Atlético Madrid on Wednesday night. Marcos Llorente must certainly be wondering why more aren't talking about the young Yorkshireman.
Here we go. It's your #ThreeLions squad for March camp! 👀
— England (@England) March 20, 2026
That was his finest outing in Lilywhite, in his most natural role. Gray performs with a serene comfort in the middle of the park. While he was overlooked by Tuchel this time, despite the German picking 35 players for the upcoming March friendlies, it won't be long until the 20-year-old works his way into the national team setup.
He can be proud of his work this season, while so many around his young shoulders have floundered.
Djed Spence arguably falls into the latter category, but he wasn't helped by what Thomas Frank asked of him. Spence impressed Tuchel when Ange Postecoglou was still in town, and the England boss has retained his faith in the Tottenham full-back despite a tough campaign.
He remains in for now, but Spence needs a strong end to the season if he's to head to the World Cup. Destiny Udogie's return from injury isn't ideal for his cause, but the Englishman will certainly get more opportunities to impress before the summer.