Thomas Tuchel has once more chosen to leave Trent Alexander-Arnold out of England’s World Cup squad, even after a defensive spot opened up. The Real Madrid defender has found himself excluded once again, prompting Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher to offer his perspective on why Alexander-Arnold continues to struggle for international recognition.

Tuchel has shown a clear preference for defensively solid and versatile players. England made a last-minute change to their World Cup squad, calling up Trevoh Chalobah to replace the injured Tino Livramento just before their opening match against Croatia. Many fans assumed that Alexander-Arnold would be the natural replacement given his profile and pedigree, but Tuchel opted for Chalobah, valuing flexibility and defensive discipline over attacking creativity.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Carragher suggested that the England manager’s tactical philosophy simply does not align with Alexander-Arnold’s strengths. “We know Thomas Tuchel’s stance now regarding Trent,” Carragher remarked. “Looking at the players in the squad, it feels like he’s picking centre-backs who can fill in at right-back rather than selecting an out-and-out right-back.”

Despite his move from Liverpool to Real Madrid confirming his place among the world’s elite defenders, Alexander-Arnold’s international career has stalled. Carragher believes that Tuchel’s focus on defensive organisation and structural solidity has come at the expense of the attacking flair that made the full-back a star at Anfield and a marquee signing for Los Blancos.

“We all know the special qualities that Trent Alexander-Arnold possesses – that’s why Real Madrid signed him, and why Liverpool fans were devastated to see him go,” Carragher explained. “But those same qualities – and perhaps his weaknesses as well – are why Thomas Tuchel hasn’t selected him. Maybe Tuchel is focusing more on the negatives than the positives with Trent.”

Tuchel’s approach seems to revolve around building a cohesive and well-balanced unit rather than relying on individual brilliance. Alexander-Arnold’s omission can be seen as part of a broader tactical message from the former Chelsea manager, who clearly prefers his full-backs to function as traditional defenders rather than attacking playmakers.

“The way Tuchel wants his team to play might not highlight Trent’s strengths as much as a Jurgen Klopp or Real Madrid system would,” Carragher continued. “I can’t say I’m too surprised that he’s left Trent out. I mentioned a few weeks ago that Tuchel values team harmony, unity, and collective spirit over pure talent, and this decision reinforces that.”

Alexander-Arnold was not the only notable omission from the squad. Manchester United’s experienced defender Harry Maguire also failed to make the cut. Despite his impressive record in previous tournaments under Gareth Southgate, Tuchel chose Chalobah instead when a defensive vacancy arose, suggesting a desire to refresh England’s backline.

“A right-back pulled out, so I never thought he’d go for a pure centre-back – and that’s what Harry Maguire is,” Carragher said. “I’m not saying Chalobah is a right-back, but in an emergency, he could probably fill in there better than a traditional centre-half like Maguire. Having seen Maguire’s comments recently, it’s understandable. Every player believes they could have made the difference. I’m sure what he told Tuchel on FaceTime was the same as what many others did. Again, I’m not overly surprised.”

As England prepare for their World Cup campaign, questions remain about how far Tuchel’s pragmatic approach can take the team, especially after omitting some of the nation’s most talented and creative players.