Thomas Tuchel wants Trent Alexander-Arnold to prove his England worth
Few had envisaged the Real Madrid defender receiving his first England call-up since June 2025.
Thomas Tuchel has challenged Trent Alexander-Arnold to prove himself on his England return – and admitted Harry Maguire’s hopes of an international recall have been dented by candid remarks that he “didn’t like”.
The German coach raised a few eyebrows in his first squad selection since the World Cup ended with July’s agonising semi-final defeat to Argentina and the chaotic bronze medal win against France.
Rejuvenated Cole Palmer unsurprisingly returned to the fold, but few envisaged similarly high-profile Alexander-Arnold receiving his first England call-up since June 2025.
The Real Madrid man was overlooked throughout last season, and again when Tino Livramento pulled out of the World Cup, but injuries to right-back options Reece James and Ben White have helped offer a way back.
“I am not sure a lot of things have changed,” Tuchel said. “I know what he is capable of and I know about his talent.
“I know what he is saying, that he is desperate to play for England and he will fight for his shirt and here we are.
“He is in camp and he has the chance. It’s a long camp and it’s a good moment to show up.”
Asked if he offers enough defensively, the England boss said: “He has to, he has to. It’s necessary. My conviction is that he will, but he has no choice.”
Tuchel has not spoken to Alexander-Arnold since calling him up and stressed, like with all players, it is “one thing to be nominated”, but “another thing to perform for England”.
“He was never off the list,” said the head coach, who claims not to have had “one sleepless night” over his World Cup selection.
“He was never non-selectable for us, and it’s his chance to show, come to camp, and be the best version of himself.
“He had a good start in two positions for Real Madrid and he comes as a right-back for us.”
Alexander-Arnold will hope to prove his worth across the new three-week international camp for which there were, as always, some big-name absentees.
Phil Foden, Morgan Gibbs-White and Adam Wharton were among those left out of the 27-man squad for the four Nations League fixtures as well as Manchester United centre-back Maguire.
The 66-cap defender was a key figure under Sir Gareth Southgate and forced his way into Tuchel’s set-up in March, only to miss out on a place in the World Cup and make his frustration about that public.
Maguire vented on social media about how “shocked and gutted” he was to be omitted – a public reaction that the manager initially said left him “a bit surprised”.
When asked if those comments close the door on a return to the set-up given how much he puts a focus on brotherhood and behaviour, the England boss said: “It doesn’t help. It does not help.
“I will not hold it against him for the rest of his life because I’m not that type of person. I can forget easily and quickly, but I didn’t like it and it doesn’t help.”
Tuchel confirmed the pair have not spoken since those remarks.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hall, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Dominic Calvert-Lewin returned to the fold along with Palmer and Alexander-Arnold.
Rio Ngumoha and Alex Scott are in having impressed as part of the pre-World Cup training group, while one-cap Jarrad Branthwaite earned his first call-up under Tuchel.
World Cup squad members John Stones, Djed Spence, Dan Burn, Jordan Henderson, Dean Henderson and James missed out through injury. Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney and Noni Madueke were dropped.