England manager Tuchel left Trent Alexander-Arnold out of his latest squad, opting instead for central defender Chalobah as a right-back solution. The decision reinforces Tuchel's ongoing skepticism about Alexander-Arnold's defensive reliability. In June, Tuchel had already bypassed Alexander-Arnold in favor of Curtis Jones, a central midfielder, for the right-back role during a World Cup qualifier against Andorra. Tuchel has repeatedly emphasized the importance of defensive discipline, stating, "If he wants to have this impact in the English national team then he has to take the defensive part very, very seriously."
He added, "The one defensive error, the one moment where you are not 100% awake, can be decisive. It can be the moment where you pack your suitcases and go home." Alexander-Arnold was absent from Tuchel's 35-man squad for friendlies against Uruguay and Japan in March. Ben White, who has not featured regularly for Arsenal and had withdrawn from international duty since the 2022 Qatar World Cup, was selected instead. Alexander-Arnold did appear in the provisional 55-man World Cup squad, though inclusion at that stage carried minimal significance.
Under interim coach Lee Carsley, Alexander-Arnold played four of six matches, including a Nations League win over Finland in October 2024, where he featured at left-back and scored with a free-kick. Tuchel, however, has not picked him in any of his 14 matches in charge. His preference for unconventional positional choices, like Chalobah at right-back, highlights a tactical rigidity centered on defensive caution. Alexander-Arnold's continued exclusion suggests his international future remains stalled under the current regime.
