Former England captain Wayne Rooney has publicly questioned the decision-making of national team coach Thomas Tuchel, describing the omission of Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold from the final pre-tournament squad as "mind-boggling." The comments come as Tuchel prepares to finalize his selection for the upcoming World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the USA.
Alexander-Arnold, who has been a regular starter for Real Madrid since recovering from a thigh injury in January, was not included in the 35-man squad for England's March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan. This oversight occurred despite Chelsea's Reece James, a primary competitor for the right-back position, being unavailable due to injury. Arsenal's Ben White started both matches in his place, even scoring the opening goal in the 1-1 draw with Uruguay.
Rooney, speaking on his podcast, drew a direct comparison to highlight his confusion. "No disrespect to Ben White – I think he's a fantastic player – but for him to be in the squad and playing ahead of Trent is mind-boggling," he stated. The sentiment underscores a growing debate about the criteria for selection, with Alexander-Arnold's last England appearance dating back to a substitute role in a World Cup qualifier against Andorra in June of the previous year.
The depth of the competition for the right-back spot is evident in Tuchel's recent choices. Newcastle's Tino Livramento, Tottenham's Djed Spence, and Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa were all selected ahead of Alexander-Arnold in the latest squad announcement. This pattern of exclusion from the last four squads has raised questions about whether the former Liverpool star's unique attacking qualities are being valued within Tuchel's tactical framework.
Despite the current snub, not all former players believe Alexander-Arnold's World Cup hopes are dashed. Phil Jagielka, Rooney's former Everton teammate, expressed confidence that the defender still merits a place on the plane. "I think he probably still makes it," Jagielka commented. "You need your best players. If [Alexander-Arnold] proves he can play half as well as he played for most of his time at Liverpool, he's definitely worth taking."
The debate extends beyond just one position, revealing broader philosophical questions about the ideal profile for England's full-backs. Rooney himself would start Reece James if fit, despite labeling the Chelsea defender as "unreliable" defensively. "Reece James isn't the most defensive," Rooney admitted. "In terms of the lads who are there, you wouldn't say they're the best defensively anyway, [any] of them." This suggests a potential acceptance of offensive-minded defenders, a category where Alexander-Arnold excels.
On the opposite flank, the competition appears to be a two-horse race between Manchester City's Nico O'Reilly and Newcastle's Lewis Hall. O'Reilly has enjoyed a stellar season under Pep Guardiola, contributing nine goals and six assists across 50 appearances. Hall, meanwhile, has been a consistent performer for Newcastle, featuring in 44 games and aiding their Champions League run. Jagielka, while praising O'Reilly's attacking output, noted a defensive vulnerability. "I really, really enjoy watching O'Reilly, but he gets caught out of defence," he observed. "He doesn't get asked to play left-back when he's at Manchester City. I'd go O'Reilly at this moment in time, but there's literally nothing between him and Lewis."
Rooney offered a different perspective, advocating for the experience and defensive solidity of Manchester United's Luke Shaw, who started at left-back in both Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup. "We don't need our full-backs to be the most attacking; we need them to defend," Rooney argued. "Keep the balance and let the attacking player win you the games. Luke Shaw can't [attack] as much now, but what he can do is defend."
The recent friendlies served as a final audition for many players, with Tuchel fielding experimental line-ups. This included using Manchester City's Phil Foden as a false nine against Japan in the absence of injured captain Harry Kane. While Rooney commended Tuchel for using these matches to evaluate fringe players, he expressed concern that the core team is not yet settled. "We've created a pressure," Rooney said. "I like what Tuchel has done, but I still think, at this stage, you should be having question marks on one or two players. It seems like he's still trying to figure out the rest of his squad, and 10 [starting] players."
England's World Cup campaign begins with a group stage match against Croatia in Dallas on June 17. They will then face Ghana in Boston on June 23 before concluding their group fixtures against Panama in New Jersey on June 27. The final squad decisions, particularly in the defensive positions, will be closely scrutinized as the tournament approaches.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.
