Thomas Tuchel has clarified why he did not include Trent Alexander-Arnold in his latest England squad.
The coach has selected 35 players for the upcoming international matches, where England will face Uruguay on Friday and Japan next Tuesday at Wembley Stadium.
Alexander-Arnold was not named in the squad and was also not called up when Jarell Quansah withdrew. Tuchel opted for Arsenal defender Ben White, who has not played for the national team since returning from the 2022 World Cup.
The Real Madrid right-back has struggled since leaving Liverpool last year and will need to work hard to earn his place back for this summer’s World Cup.
Tuchel stated that he is sticking with players from previous international breaks, which Alexander-Arnold missed, as he does not fit the physical profile needed for his system.
Tuchel addresses Alexander-Arnold’s exclusion
“It’s a tough decision,” he told ITV. “There’s no doubt about his ability and what he can contribute.
“We developed a different game model when he was not with us last September, October, and November.
“This model focused on intensity and positivity, as well as a different type of right full-back who can make overlapping and underlapping runs.
“The players who were with us during those camps performed very well.
“We decided to stick with those players. I know this is difficult for him. He was with us in June and possibly deserved another chance.
“It’s a tough call. He handled it well and will keep pushing forward.
“I’ll make sure to watch some of Real Madrid’s matches, possibly in the Champions League, to assess him further.
“He remains on the long list, and everyone is still in contention. But right now, others are ahead of him.”
See Also – Six talking points from Tuchel’s England squad announcement
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