With less than a month until the deadline for naming his World Cup squad, England boss Thomas Tuchel faces the usual number of selection headaches that any Three Lions boss has to juggle on the eve of a major tournament.
The German took a look at 37 players during the March friendlies, meaning that the names who weren’t called up were arguably more noteworthy than those that were.
Among the major absentees was Real Madrid’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has won 34 Three Lions caps since his international debut in 2018.
Stephen Warnock on Alexander-Arnold’s World Cup chances
Tuchel must first hand over a provisional list of 55 players to FIFA by May 11, before submitting his final 26-man squad by May 30.
Alexander-Arnold, who is coming to end of his first season in Madrid following his switch from Liverpool last summer, hasn’t gone to any of the four major international tournaments since his 2018 debut as the team’s first-choice right-back.
With the 27-year-old seemingly on the outside looking in, eyebrows have been raised over the omission of a player of his quality, and one that has the ability to shape games from deep.
Among those cheerleading the Liverpool academy graduate’s case is another former Reds full-back, Stephen Warnock, who believes the debate around Alexander-Arnold has been framed too narrowly.
“People look at Trent defensively and think that he’s not as good as others,” Warnock explains to FourFourTwo.
Famed for his passing range and ability to unlock defences, Alexander-Arnold brings different qualities to the side, Warnock believes.
“I’d pick him every day of the week because of what he gives you going forward, the way he can change a game.”
Warnock, who won two England caps and as part of the 2010 World Cup squad where he served as Ashley Cole’s deputy at left-back, does however admit that Alexander-Arnold’s attacking play does come with a risk.
“But defensively, maybe there’s been a lack of trust,” he concedes.
