England squad omission may come back to haunt Thomas Tuchel - if he does not take huge weapon to World Cup
Thomas Tuchel made some major decisions in his latest England squad - but were they all right?
England’s final squad before the World Cup was announced on Friday morning and has left hearts racing after some surprise decisions by manager Thomas Tuchel.
The Three Lions boss announced a bloated squad of 35 for the friendlies against Uruguay and Japan later this month, stating that a group of 11 players including Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and captain Harry Kane will be allowed to arrive at the camp late and only take part in the second fixture after a short “break”.
If it can be deduced that this group of 11 are all-but assured of their place in the squad for the World Cup – this also includes Morgan Rogers, Elliot Anderson, Anthony Gordon, Nico O’Reilly, Marc Guéhi, Ezri Konsa, Dan Burn and Dean Henderson – the remaining 24 players in this month’s squad have a battle on their hands to prove their worth of a spot on the plane to North America. Amongst those, there were recalls for Manchester United pair Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo for the first time under Tuchel.
For those left out of the squad this time around entirely, the situation appears dire. Notable omissions include Morgan Gibbs-White, Ollie Watkins and Luke Shaw – but one man in particular stands out.
Trent Alexander-Arnold omission is questionable at best - misguided at worst
Trent Alexander-Arnold has never had the easiest time of it in an England shirt, and nor has his first season at Real Madrid necessarily gone as he would have hoped – but to see the 27-year-old left out of a 35-man England squad at this stage before the World Cup has certainly raised eyebrows.
The former Liverpool right-back has endured an injury-hit season in the Spanish capital, but is now fully fit and started in both matches as Los Blancos dumped Manchester City out of the Champions League 5-1 on aggregate. So, with Reece James out injured, is there much justification for Tuchel leaving Alexander-Arnold out of this month’s squad entirely? After all, he has only featured once for England under Tuchel and has hardly been given the opportunity to prove himself to the German.
Tuchel conceded to the press that it was a “tough” decision leaving Alexander-Arnold out, but added that Tino Livramento, Djed Spence and Jarell Quansah all offer a “slightly different profile” to the two-time Premier League winner – whose qualities he is already well aware of, Tuchel added.
But if he thinks that the trio of options at right-back chosen offer “something different”, then what can be said of Trent? Arguably the definition of boasting a unique skillset when it comes to the modern full-back, Tuchel’s words can certainly be taken as slightly ironic and potentially misguided.
Trent should be on the plane to the World Cup - he has nothing to prove
Alexander-Arnold has always had to prove himself more than should be necessary when it comes to representing the Three Lions. Former manager Gareth Southgate consistently preferred Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier and Reece James over him, even leaving Trent out of the squad on occasion despite everything he has achieved at club level, and tried him in midfield in a Euro 2024 experiment which ultimately did not quite pay off.
Trent’s lack of game-time under Tuchel in the autumn can be justified as being down to injuries and a lack of fitness, but not this time. It appears as though the German is content to look past one of the greatest weapons available to him off the bench in the tournament, in the Real Madrid star’s unique passing range and ability to create chances like no-one else from full-back.
With James likely to start in the World Cup if fit, it is almost nonsensical not to include Alexander-Arnold as a game-changing option behind him. But in this month’s March auditions for the final squad, Tuchel has opted to give the opportunity to Newcastle United’s Livramento, Spence – whose Spurs side are currently embroiled in a relegation battle – and Quansah, Trent’s former Liverpool team-mate who is naturally a centre-back but can also play on the right. Versatile options, sure. But players who can win you games in a World Cup? Doubtful.
This omission does not yet spell the end for Alexander-Arnold, with almost three months yet to go until the tournament. Maybe he needs to do more at club level, where he has only registered two assists in 20 appearances this term, in the meantime. But when a player of his talent is concerned, sometimes it is necessary to simply trust that he will deliver. For Trent and England, it appears to be the same old story.