Trent Alexander-Arnold’s name now sits somewhere below Phil Neal, Viv Anderson and Earl Barrett in Thomas Tuchel’s right-back pecking order. The Real Madrid star, a triple Champions League finalist and double Premier League winner, has been snubbed once more — this time as England’s World Cup plans unravelled on the eve of their opener against Croatia.
Tino Livramento, the Newcastle defender, has been ruled out of the entire tournament after suffering a hamstring injury, forcing Tuchel into a late squad change. While many expected Alexander-Arnold to be summoned, the England manager instead turned to his former Chelsea charge Trevoh Chalobah, handing the 26-year-old his first World Cup call-up. The decision, extraordinary but wholly unsurprising, leaves Alexander-Arnold at most seventh-choice right-back for his country.
“Tino Livramento ruled out of World Cup with hamstring injury; Trevoh Chalobah called up ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold.”
Tuchel’s men face Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday at 9pm UK time, with qualification having been perfect — no draws, no defeats, no goals conceded — but friendly performances uninspiring. Now the manager faces a huge selection dilemma at centre-back, where the group is arguably as weak as any in living memory.
Despite having just 11 Premier League starts across the last two seasons, John Stones is set to be handed a starting role, with Tuchel a huge fan of the 32-year-old’s experience. “I believe that we are going to win. And it has to be belief, it can’t be a hope,” Stones said this week. “We all hope something good is going to happen but when you believe it you feel it.”
Stones, part of the leadership group, is expected to partner Marc Guehi, with Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa also in contention. But after an injury blow and a controversial snub, England head into their first match with more questions than answers.