Thomas Tuchel has delivered a shock by excluding Trent Alexander-Arnold from England's squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia. The Real Madrid defender, who moved from Liverpool in the summer, has been left out despite his high-profile transfer to the Spanish giants.
The England manager explained his decision with a clear message about competition for places. Tuchel said: "We decided for a tighter, more competitive squad, we didn't use all 23 players. There is no doubt I am a big fan of Trent and Jack Grealish. Big players and big personalities, always in the mix. I know both are desperate but in this camp we decided for Reece [James] and Livramento and in Jack's [Grealish], Rashy and Ebs. The competition is up."
First-time call-ups reward form
Two players have received their first England senior call-ups, with Djed Spence and Elliot Anderson both named in the 24-man squad. Tottenham's Spence has particularly impressed Tuchel with his recent performances at left-back.
Tuchel praised Spence's impact, saying: "Djed comes to camp as a left-back together with Myles and fights for his position there. It's a first call-up. I think it's very well deserved. He had a very strong end to the season, won a major trophy and a very strong start to the season with Tottenham."
Alexander-Arnold's Madrid struggles
Metro reports Alexander-Arnold has been struggling to establish himself at Real Madrid, facing competition from 33-year-old Dani Carvajal for the right-back position. Spanish media have suggested the defender has appeared "too shy" and struggled to adapt to life at the Bernabeu.
The exclusion comes despite Alexander-Arnold's controversial summer move from Liverpool, where he had been a key player for several seasons. His absence from the England squad adds further pressure to his early Real Madrid career.
Squad philosophy and fixtures
Marcus Rashford returns to the England setup alongside other regulars, while Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker and Phil Foden join Alexander-Arnold among the notable absentees. Tuchel emphasised his commitment to merit-based selection over reputation.
England face Andorra at home on September 6 before travelling to Serbia on September 9 in their World Cup qualifying campaign. The Three Lions are currently Group K leaders following their Euro 2024 runner-up finish.
Tuchel concluded: "The competition is on. And that is why I like it. We used the summer to reflect on the first two camps. We have invited a lot of observations from the players and wanted to build a tighter, more competitive squad."
Sources used: "GBNews", "Metro", "The Guardian", "The i", "Daily Star", "Morning Star", "Independent", "Mirror" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
