Trent Alexander-Arnold, a prominent player for Real Madrid, has been omitted from the England squad for the upcoming World Cup by manager Thomas Tuchel. The former Liverpool defender’s debut season at the Santiago Bernabéu has been inconsistent, and despite a recent improvement in form, it was not enough to secure a place in the national team.
The 27-year-old defender joined Real Madrid to challenge Dani Carvajal for the right-back position. However, both players experienced injuries during the first half of the season. In the latter half, Alexander-Arnold established himself as the first-choice defender, appearing in 30 matches and providing five assists. While his attacking contributions in the final two months were commendable, his defensive performance once again drew criticism.
Despite these performances, Alexander-Arnold did not make it into Tuchel’s plans. He has earned 34 caps for England but has featured for only 26 minutes since October 2024. Although an injury caused him to miss one call-up this season, Tuchel did not select him for the other three international breaks.
Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford Selected for England
In contrast, Alexander-Arnold’s Real Madrid teammates, Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford, have been selected for the World Cup squad, despite also experiencing periods of inconsistency this season. Bellingham’s campaign was significantly affected by injuries, but he has shown promising performances since returning to full fitness in April. Rashford, who has never been a guaranteed starter for Barcelona, has faced criticism for his contributions at times. Nevertheless, he has still managed to score 14 goals and provide 14 assists in 48 appearances.
Second High-Profile Real Madrid Player Omitted
Alexander-Arnold’s exclusion marks the second high-profile casualty from Real Madrid for a major international tournament due to a disappointing club season. France manager Didier Deschamps also decided to leave out Eduardo Camavinga from his World Cup squad. The former Rennes midfielder has also faced considerable challenges with injuries and form in recent months, arguably to a greater extent than Alexander-Arnold.
