Trent Alexander-Arnold left out of England squad for World Cup qualifiers

Tuchel leaves out the Real Madrid player and Walker

Fri, 29 Aug, 2025 - 13:30

David Hytner

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been left out of the England squad by Thomas Tuchel. The Real Madrid player’s omission was the most striking decision by the head coach, who has given first call-ups to Elliot Anderson and Djed Spence.

Kyle Walker, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish are also not in the squad for World Cup qualifiers at home to Andorra and away to Serbia. Marcus Rashford and Adam Wharton have returned together with Marc Guéhi, Tino Livramento, Jarrod Bowen and John Stones.

In May Tuchel warned Alexander-Arnold he must bring a single-minded focus to the defensive side of his game because one slip at the World Cup next summer could mean England pack their suitcases and go home. The head coach said then that he regarded Alexander-Arnold as a right-back, albeit a “unique” one, rather than a midfielder as he named him in his squad for games against Andorra and Senegal.

Alexander-Arnold came on as a 64th-minute substitute against Andorra in Barcelona and was unused against Senegal. He has since joined Madrid from Liverpool and has played at the Club World Cup and in La Liga.

Anderson’s inclusion is a reward for his performances with the Under-21s and fine form at Forest. The midfielder starred as Lee Carsley’s Under-21s won the European Championship in the summer.

Tuchel watched Anderson last Sunday at Crystal Palace. Anderson joined Forest in July 2024 in a deal largely motivated by Newcastle’s need to stay on the right side of profitability and sustainability rules.

The 22-year-old represented Scotland as well as England at youth level and was called up to the Scotland senior side for the first time in August 2023, but withdrew through injury.

Spence’s versatility will appeal to Tuchel. The 25-year-old can play in both full-back positions and has enjoyed a renaissance at Tottenham since he spent the 2023-24 season on loan at Leeds and Genoa. The former Middlesbrough player signed a new contract this month and has started both of Spurs’ league games this season at left-back.

Rashford was called up by Tuchel in March and then missed June’s games because of injury. Grealish impressed for Everton in last weekend’s game against Brighton, setting up both his team’s goals, but has not done enough to convince Tuchel he is worthy of a callup. His last England appearance came under Carsley against Finland in Helsinki in October 2024.

Tuchel has not found space for Curtis Jones, Trevoh Chalobah, Ivan Toney or Conor Gallagher. Levi Colwill, Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Ben White are injured.

Foden returned from injury for City as a 75th-minute substitute last weekend after an ankle knock in pre-season. His former City teammate Walker, a summer signing for Burnley, had a torrid game against Senegal on his 96th England appearance and his hopes of reaching 100 caps appear to be fading after his omission from a squad that contains no Liverpool or Manchester United players other than Rashford, who is loan at Barcelona.

Guardian