Trent Alexander-Arnold vows to use World Cup snub as motivation
Trent Alexander-Arnold has admitted he was “angry” with Thomas Tuchel after being brutally left out of England’s World Cup squad and has vowed to use the rejection as fuel to resurrect his international career, reports BritPanorama.
The Real Madrid defender had been clinging to the hope of earning a place on the plane after a difficult first season in Spain. However, when Alexander-Arnold finally received the call at his Madrid home, he faced the conversation he had been dreading.
“I’ll be honest, I was full of hope,” the former Liverpool star said, per the BBC. “When I put the phone down, I was properly gutted. I hope the coaching staff would expect and understand that I was angry.” Instead of making plans for the summer, Alexander-Arnold waited anxiously to discover whether Tuchel would include him in his squad. Ultimately, England went to the tournament without the 27-year-old, who has not played for his country since June 2025.
His international exile has now lasted over a year, but Alexander-Arnold insists he has no intention of walking away from England. Despite his frustration with Tuchel’s decision, he believes he has the hunger that the German manager desires. “He wants players who are desperate to play for England. I am one of those,” he affirmed. “Until I retire, I’m still an England player, whether I’m selected or not.”
Having watched England’s World Cup campaign from afar, he is determined to force himself back into Tuchel’s plans. Rather than letting disappointment fester, he aims to channel it into strong performances for Real Madrid this season. “I want to use it as fuel to get back into England squads and then back in an England shirt,” he stated. “That’s an aim of mine and I hope to achieve it.”
Alexander-Arnold’s first campaign in Spain has been challenging, disrupted following his high-profile move from Liverpool, where he remains embroiled in past controversy. Fourteen months after leaving his boyhood club, he revealed he still receives online abuse over his decision, which “hurts.” He remarked, “The booing and disappointment from Liverpool supporters is something I’m absolutely able to shoulder.” Nevertheless, he expressed hope that one day there will be understanding about his choices. “I hope one day there’ll be a degree of understanding about the decisions I wanted to make around my own life,” he added.
In an increasingly competitive landscape, Alexander-Arnold’s mix of resilience and ambition might indeed carve a path back into the national setup. A reminder that in football, as in life, redemption and regret often coexist on fragile grounds.
