Thomas Tuchel has addressed his team selection after leaving Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold out of England’s starting lineup for their UEFA Nations League clash against Croatia. Having recalled the right-back alongside Chelsea’s Cole Palmer following England’s third-place finish at the summer World Cup, Tuchel’s tactical choices remain in sharp focus as the national side navigates a four-game Nations League campaign against Spain, Croatia, and the Czech Republic during a demanding three-week camp.
Alexander-Arnold’s return to the 27-man squad marked his first inclusion since June 2025, when he featured as a substitute in a 1-0 victory over Andorra. The 38-cap defender, who made his senior international debut in 2018, missed a March 2025 call-up due to an ankle injury during his final season at Liverpool and was later sidelined from the October squad with a hamstring issue before being left out of the World Cup roster entirely. Former manager Sir Gareth Southgate had occasionally deployed Alexander-Arnold in central midfield—a role he fulfilled during his three starts at major tournaments—but Tuchel previously selected Arsenal defender Ben White ahead of him after personally scouting Real Madrid against Bayern Munich.
Tuchel made eight total changes from the squad he took to the World Cup, re-integrating high-profile figures while leaving out Manchester City’s Phil Foden. Palmer earned his spot back after an explosive start to the domestic season with Chelsea, recording four goals and two assists in six matches while building effective link-up play with Morgan Rogers and Joao Pedro. The squad adjustments also follow defensive disruption experienced during the World Cup, where Newcastle full-back Tino Livramento suffered a calf injury in training ahead of the opening group match against Croatia in Dallas, leading to a call-up for Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah alongside defensive cover from Dan Burn, Jarell Quansah, and Ezri Konsa.
Explaining the decision to drop Alexander-Arnold to the bench against Croatia, Tuchel highlighted the necessity of balancing player workload and tactical consistency across consecutive international fixtures. With Kobbie Mainoo and Morgan Gibbs-White also pushing for starting roles, the England boss emphasized that line-up selections during this Nations League window are dictated by specific match plans and squad rotation rather than individual reputations.
