Real Madrid fans and many supporters around the world, especially in England, were incensed when the arrogant Thomas Tuchel kept up his anti Trent Alexander-Arnold gimmick by snubbing the Merengue right back from his 2026 World Cup squad. Throughout the international breaks, Tuchel had been sending harsh messages to Trent, leaving him out of the team, even though he was playing at a high level under tough circumstances in Madrid.
Many England national team fans felt that the decision to leave Trent off the 2026 World Cup squad made no sense, given Trent's individual quality and his ability to create chances out of thin air, which is a trait the team currently do not have.
Tuchel instead went with scrappy Tottenham Hotspur backup Djed Spence, who was not exactly impressive for a Spurs side that nearly got relegated. So far at the World Cup, Spence has played OK and has become more important to Tuchel, but with Reece James now out with a hamstring injury, Tuchel's snub is starting to look worse and worse.
Thomas Tuchel is haunting England with Trent Alexander-Arnold
Former Manchester City and Aston Villa star right back Micah Richards was among the top English pundits who did not fathom the Trent Alexander-Arnold snub all along, and he, once again, took Thomas Tuchel to task for the decision that has come back to haunt the Three Lions.
Richards said of the move on The Rest Is Football Podcast, “Imagine having Trent right now who can show his worth vs Panama. Now, England are going to put a CB at RB. It goes against everything the manager believes in."
Once again, one of the top three best analysts on CBS's Champions League show is spot on about Trent. Panama is Panama and England will be fine for the Round of 32 regardless, but that is precisely the kind of opponent you would want to see Trent get his confidence up against and attack, and especially if Tuchel had his doubts, he could have used that as his barometer for the player.
Instead, Trent is not even an available option in the squad, and England are either going to be playing Djed Spence at right back, when he has converted to left back for his club Tottenham Hotspur, or they are going to be using a center back there because that is all they have. Reece James already came into the World Cup with a laundry list of injury concerns, and Tuchel straight up failed to plan at right back. He had Trent right there, but, really, his ego got in the way, and now England have to manage a problem when there should have been none - particularly since Trent was better than James last season anyway.
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