Wayne Rooney questions Thomas Tuchel’s decision to overlook Trent Alexander-Arnold
Wayne Rooney has admitted he finds it ‘mind-boggling’ that Thomas Tuchel continues to overlook Trent Alexander-Arnold as England’s World Cup campaign creeps closer, reports BritPanorama.
The right-back looks unlikely to make the squad for this summer’s showpiece event, having featured just once under Tuchel so far.
During the last international break in March, Tuchel opted to snub Alexander-Arnold, bringing Ben White back into the international fold instead. White had previously been absent from England squads ever since walking out on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Alexander-Arnold demonstrated his quality consistently during his time at Liverpool, although he has struggled since joining Real Madrid last summer. Yet Rooney finds it baffling that the 27-year-old continues to be overlooked regardless of his challenges in Spain. “No disrespect to Ben White, I think he’s a really good player, but for him to be in the squad and play ahead of Trent, I find it mind-boggling,” Rooney said on the BBC’s Wayne Rooney Show.
In addition to White, Jarrell Quansah, Reece James, Tino Livramento, and Djed Spence are all ahead of Alexander-Arnold in the pecking order. Rooney believes James should start when England’s campaign kicks off against Croatia on June 17. “We don’t need our full-backs to be the most attacking; we need them to defend,” he explained.
Rooney added that his defence would include Harry Maguire, Marc Guehi, and Luke Shaw, despite the Manchester United left-back looking set to miss out. “We’ve got attacking ability at the top end of the pitch,” he noted. “We don’t need them to be bombing forward; keep the balance and let the attacking players win you the games.”
Criticism of Tuchel’s treatment of Alexander-Arnold extends beyond Rooney. Gary Lineker recently suggested that Tuchel may have ‘personal’ issues with the defender. “I think there’s something personal because football-wise there’s no argument. I can’t see how he can not be in that squad because he has to improve your chances, even if it’s from the bench,” Lineker stated.
As speculation continues about Alexander-Arnold’s omission, the discourse surrounding Tuchel’s tactics and selection will remain sharp, particularly as crucial matches draw near. In a sport where every decision is scrutinised, the question lingers: how does a player of Alexander-Arnold’s calibre find himself sidelined? It highlights the unpredictability of football, where talent alone does not always guarantee a place on the pitch.
