Tuchel has confirmed that he spoke directly with Trent Alexander-Arnold to explain why the Real Madrid player has once again been left out of the national team squad. The 27-year-old’s hopes of playing a prominent role in the upcoming World Cup have suffered a heavy blow, as in practice, he finds himself relegated to being the seventh option in a very crowded right-back line.

In statements to the media before England’s international friendly against Uruguay, Tuchel revealed the nature of his recent conversation with the former Liverpool star. “I know there’s a stir when a player like Trent is left out,” he admitted.

“We spoke on the phone. I tried to explain the situation to him, but he has to accept it. It’s just a decision. A sporting decision, difficult and perhaps harsh. Perhaps, to some extent, unfair, but these decisions have to be made.”

In his latest 35-player squad, Tuchel has decided to rely on Tino Livramento, Djed Spence, and Ben White to cover the right-back spot in his defense. Despite Reece James currently being out with an injury and veterans Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier no longer in the international picture, Alexander-Arnold has failed to convince the German manager that he has a place in the squad.

Tuchel explained why he chose Arsenal’s White, who has just rejoined the team, over the Madrid player. In fact, when Jarell Quansah withdrew from the squad, it was White who received the call instead of Alexander-Arnold. “The choice fell on Ben White because I saw him play here in the cup final against Manchester City.

He had played the previous Champions League match and quickly returned to his usual self. It was an opportunity to meet him in person and see how he interacts with the group,” the England manager explained.

The England manager appears determined to reward players who performed well in previous international camps, leaving out Alexander-Arnold from the team. Since Tuchel took charge, the former Liverpool player has only played one match as a substitute — a brief appearance against Andorra last June, while his rivals have taken their opportunities to impress the new coaching staff.

“I think I know what Trent brings to us, so the choice fell on Ben and on Tino Livramento for right-back,” Tuchel said. “I wanted to keep relying on the guys who really had good performances with us in September, October, and November. They also need minutes; there are many players in this position (including Djed Spence) fighting for a spot. I didn’t want to leave them out.”

Now facing his fourth consecutive exclusion from the squad, Alexander-Arnold’s international career has reached a worrying crossroads. Despite holding a regular place in the Bernabeu starting lineup following his move to the Spanish capital club, the full-back’s unique skills remain a point of contention for Tuchel, who previously opted to play Curtis Jones as a right-back in a qualifying match.

With the World Cup approaching, the message from England’s camp is clear: past reputation counts for little under the current regime. Unless there is a drastic change in Tuchel’s tactical perspective or a growing injury crisis, one of England’s most technically gifted players faces the very real prospect of watching the summer tournament from home while his teammates compete for world glory.

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