World Cup 2026: What do Thomas Tuchel’s England defensive picks mean for Trent Alexander-Arnold?
Tuchel’s decision to opt for a centre-back rather than a natural full-back replacement in Chalobah is further evidence that Real Madrid’s Alexander-Arnold is out of the picture.
Alexander-Arnold’s fate appeared sealed in August, when Tuchel left him out of the England squad for World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia.
This was after Tuchel opted to field midfielder Curtis Jones, Alexander-Arnold’s former Liverpool teammate, ahead of him at right-back against Andorra in June.
Tuchel made clear his concerns about Alexander-Arnold’s defensive weaknesses, saying: “If he wants to have that impact on the England national team he needs to take the defensive part very, very seriously.
“Because especially when we talk about knockout football and then tournament football, that one defensive mistake, that moment where you’re not 100% alert, can be decisive. That could be the moment when you pack your bags and go home.”
Packing his suitcase early for his flight back to England is not on Tuchel’s agenda; Therefore, one of the country’s most naturally talented football players is overlooked again.
Alexander-Arnold was not included in Tuchel’s 35-man squad for friendly matches against Uruguay and Japan in March and missed out again when the manager was forced to seek reinforcements.
Tuchel instead opted for Arsenal’s Ben White, who is not a regular player at club level and has been in self-imposed exile in England since the Qatar World Cup in 2022.
Alexander-Arnold has made Tuchel’s 55-man provisional World Cup squad, but it’s hardly a brilliant boost.
This is in stark contrast to the faith placed in Alexander-Arnold by England Under-21 coach Lee Carsley, who filled the gap between Southgate’s departure and Tuchel’s appointment.
In fact, Carsley used Alexander-Arnold in the left-back position in the 3-1 Nations League victory played in Finland in October 2024 and crowned his performance with a magnificent free kick.
Alexander-Arnold started four of the six matches under Carsley but none of Tuchel’s 14 – these facts speak for themselves.
As a head coach focused on team cohesion, were there any concerns that having such a high-profile player on the sidelines might inadvertently cause Alexander-Arnold to distract and distract attention?
Alexander-Arnold’s latest rejection appears to be proof that there is no way for him to return to England as long as Tuchel is in charge.
