Thomas Tuchel has plenty of big decisions to make when selecting the players who will carry England‘s hopes at the World Cup. Many of the country’s biggest names, including the likes of Harry Kane, Jordan Pickford, Marc Guehi and Declan Rice, are essentially guaranteed a spot on the plane. For others, there will be a nervous wait to find out if they make the cut.
Questions remain over the inclusion of players like Cole Palmer and Phil Foden, who have flattered to deceive in the Premier League this season. Trent Alexander-Arnold also falls into that category, having struggled to make an impact at Real Madrid since joining them in the summer. The former Liverpool defender is a curious case and it remains to be seen if he will be called up for the World Cup.
He has only started 14 league games for Real Madrid this season, with Dani Carvajal and Federico Valverde often being preferred at right-back. However, the England man has recently worked his way into contention with five starts in the club’s last six matches.
Tino Livramento is also racing to be fit for the summer as he recovers from a thigh problem sustained in April. Reece James, meanwhile, is likely to be named in the England squad but remains injury-prone and will need quality cover.
The situation has opened the door for Alexander-Arnold to be recalled despite missing out on the squad that faced Uruguay and Japan in the most recent international break.
Explaining his decision at the time, Tuchel said: “I know what Trent can give us so the choice was for Ben and Tino Livramento, to stick with the guys who had a good camp with us in September, November, December. Djed Spence as well.
“I know it creates noise when you leave a player like Trent out. We had a call, I tried to explain the situation. He just has to accept it.”
Alexander-Arnold was named in the provisional group of 55 players that was submitted to FIFA last week, but that number will be slashed to just 26 when the final squad is announced on Friday.
Only time will tell if he makes the cut, with England’s injury crisis at right-back seemingly giving him a better chance of playing at the World Cup.