Real Madrid right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has been left out of Thomas Tuchel’s final England squad selection before the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Despite battling injuries for much of the current season, the former Liverpool player recently regained his fitness and secured a starting spot under Alvaro Arbeloa.
For the first time this season, both Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal have maintained fitness for an extended period. Carvajal has mostly been on the bench, with Alexander-Arnold making the majority of starts. Interestingly, the 33-year-old Carvajal was also excluded from the Spain squad. However, Alexander-Arnold’s consistent starts at club level were not enough to earn him a recall to the England team. Tuchel instead opted for Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento and Tottenham Hotspur’s Djed Spence over him.
Marcus Rashford and Jude Bellingham Make the Cut
In contrast, Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham received a call-up despite not having played for his club since the beginning of February. He aims to return from injury this Sunday against Atletico Madrid in the Madrid derby, though his participation is not yet confirmed.
Meanwhile, Barcelona forward Marcus Rashford has also been selected by Tuchel. The Manchester United loanee has enjoyed good form this season, but has experienced a slight dip recently, featuring in only four of Barcelona’s last seven games without scoring or assisting—his longest such run of the season.
Tuchel’s Comments on Alexander-Arnold and Bellingham
The England manager has previously made headlines for his remarks concerning the Real Madrid duo. In September, he apologized for describing some of Bellingham’s behavior as “repulsive.” Conversely, Tuchel has praised Alexander-Arnold’s ability and expressed confidence in his potential at Real Madrid, stating the player “needs to feel the faith of his managers.” Despite this backing, it appears Alexander-Arnold is currently not favored for a World Cup squad place.
