What Thomas Tuchel said about Trent Alexander-Arnold as World Cup questions rage
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Former Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold may feel aggrieved at not being in the England squad, with the latest World Cup clash bringing up even more questions about the right-back ranks.Thomas Tuchel has previously discussed Trent Alexander-Arnold's place in the England setup(Image: (Photo by Joan Valls/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images))Trent Alexander-Arnold's omission from the England World Cup squad is being questioned once again, as the Three Lions face issues at right-back over the course of the tournament.The former Liverpool ace was left out of the final 26-man roster picked by Thomas Tuchel for the competition in North America, opting for Reece James, Djed Spence, and Tino Livramento there instead.There was an opportunity to bring Alexander-Arnold into the mix later in the month, however, as Livramento's injury meant England could call-up a replacement within the roster.However, Tuchel opted for a different option, bringing Trevoh Chalobah into the mix so that former Liverpool ace Jarell Quansah could play at right-back instead, as the head coach looked for balance across his backline with a center-back who can play on the flank.That prompted questions over the right-back spot, with James the only natural right-back in the squad, with his injury record suggesting there could be issues if he was also impacted by them.The Chelsea captain ultimately was, and while Quansah filled in for the clash with Panama, an ankle injury for him left England with very few options left at right-back.Tuchel turned to Spence, who has alternated between left-back and right-back, but the Tottenham ace struggled at times during the round of 32 match against DR Congo.He was substituted, with Declan Rice eventually filling in at right-back. Given the obvious replacement left at home in Alexander-Arnold, and the creative capacity he could add from the wide areas, there were many questions remaining on his exclusion.Tuchel has already made his feelings clear on the Real Madrid defender, when he said back in March: "I think it's a very hard decision that we took.
No doubt about his talent, no doubt about his career and what he can give to teams.Trent Alexander-Arnold has been left out of the England squad this summer(Image: (Photo by Maria Gracia Jimenez/Soccrates/Getty Images))"We created a slightly different game model when he was not in camp in September, October, November [because of injury]. It was a game model built on intensity, built on positivity, built even in the profile of the right full-back on overlaps on underlaps, very intense."So it was a slightly different profile of players who were with us in camp and who performed so well.
It is a very hard decision."While it was clearly a difficult decision, it underlines the difficulties that Alexander-Arnold has had in slotting straight into the England setup during his career so far.Even when the questions continue over the right-back position, and who can make it their own amid injury issues, he either hasn't been given the opportunity to take it or land the first-team shirt for himself.It remains to be seen whether he can do that in the future, beyond the World Cup, and whether England may regret not taking him to the tournament now.But, for now, he will be looking to improve his own club form amid a major roster overhaul at Real Madrid.