Trent Alexander-Arnold has been omitted from Thomas Tuchel’s last England squad before this summer’s World Cup. Despite impressing for Real Madrid in recent weeks, the former Liverpool man did not make Tuchel’s expanded 35-man group for the friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.
The omission is a blow for Alexander-Arnold’s World Cup hopes, especially as he has recovered from injury and returned to the Real Madrid side in recent weeks. The defender has not played for England since a 1-0 win over Andorra in June, but speaking after Real’s Champions League win on Tuesday, he revealed he hadn’t given up hope of playing at this summer’s World Cup.
"I've not spoke to him [Thomas Tuchel], but I know the squad gets announced this week, so hopefully I get the call and I can play for my country, which is always the greatest honour,” he told Amazon Prime.
The right-back called time on his Liverpool career last year, having been at the Anfield club since the age of six.
He departed the Reds having won two Premier League titles in five years, the Champions League, the Club World Cup, the FA Cup, two League Cups and the UEFA Super Cup.
However, his start to life at the Santiago Bernabeu did not start as planned, as multiple injuries reduced his playing time, and he also saw Xabi Alonso sacked, but he has featured in his side’s last nine games in all competitions.
Elsewhere in the squad, which includes no Liverpool players, Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Maguire and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have all returned from the international wilderness, while James Garner and Jason Steele received their first call-ups.
Tuchel has also revealed he plans to run two squads, one for the match against Uruguay, with a host of players then arriving for the Japan game.
He told the Football Association website: “We decided to divide it into basically two camps almost, so we bring players in that we haven’t seen who haven’t played so much to open up the picture and the competition for plane tickets to the US.
“Then from Friday and Saturday, a group of players will come into camp – 10 or 11 players who get a rest before – and we will then go with a new group and mix of players into the match against Japan.”
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