Wayne Rooney Questions Trent Alexander-Arnold's Exclusion from England Squad
Wayne Rooney has never been shy of an opinion, but this one cut straight to the heart of England’s World Cup debate.
For the former national captain, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s continued exile from Thomas Tuchel’s plans is nothing short of baffling.
“It’s mind-boggling,” Rooney said on the Wayne Rooney Podcast, reacting to the Real Madrid defender’s omission from England’s latest squad – the final camp before Tuchel locks in his list for Canada, Mexico and the USA.
Trent on the outside looking in
Alexander-Arnold has fought his way back to prominence at club level. Since recovering from a thigh injury in January, he has been a regular presence for Real Madrid, trusted again on the biggest stage.
It has made his status with England all the more jarring.
Tuchel ignored him for the March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, even with Chelsea right-back Reece James unavailable through injury. Arsenal’s Ben White started both games and opened the scoring in the 1-1 draw with Uruguay.
Rooney was quick to stress his respect for White – “a fantastic player” – but could not get his head around the pecking order.
For the March camp, Newcastle’s Tino Livramento, Tottenham’s Djed Spence and Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa all made Tuchel’s 35-man group ahead of Alexander-Arnold. The former Liverpool star has now been overlooked in four consecutive squads and has not played for England since a substitute appearance in a World Cup qualifier against Andorra in June last year.
For a player who once redefined the full-back role under Jürgen Klopp, it is a stark fall from international favour.
Jagielka: “You need your best players”
Rooney is not alone in pushing back.
Phil Jagielka, his old Everton team-mate, believes Alexander-Arnold should still be on the plane this summer.
“I think he probably still makes it,” Jagielka said. “You need your best players.
“If [Alexander-Arnold] proves he can play half as well as he played for most of his time at Liverpool, he’s definitely worth taking on the plane. If Reece James is fit, you put him in [at right-back].”
That is the crux of the argument: even with James viewed as first choice when available, Jagielka sees Alexander-Arnold as too talented to ignore.
Rooney, interestingly, lands in a similar place on James while still questioning the defensive profile of England’s options.
He would also start the Chelsea man on the right this summer, but described the 26-year-old as “unreliable” as a full-back and highlighted a broader concern.
“Reece James isn’t the most defensive,” Rooney said. “In terms of the lads who are there, you wouldn’t say they’re the best defensively anyway, [any] of them.”
Tuchel, then, is juggling a right-back group long on quality but short on pure defensive specialists, and still chooses to leave out one of the most gifted technicians of his generation.
Left-back battle: youth, form and an old trusted name
On the opposite flank, the picture is just as crowded, but with a different flavour.
Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly and Newcastle’s Lewis Hall have surged to the front of the left-back queue in Tuchel’s recent selections. Both are young, both are in form, and both bring a modern, attack-minded profile.
O’Reilly’s numbers for Pep Guardiola’s side this season are striking: nine goals and six assists in 50 appearances across all competitions. His versatility – comfortable stepping into midfield – adds another layer to his appeal.
Hall has been one of the few bright spots in a stop-start season for Eddie Howe’s Newcastle, featuring 44 times and helping the club reach the last 16 of the Champions League. He offers energy, ambition and a willingness to carry the ball under pressure.
Jagielka, though, sounds a note of caution over crowning O’Reilly as England’s long-term answer at left-back.
“I really, really enjoy watching O’Reilly, but he gets caught out of defence,” he said. “He doesn’t get asked to play left-back when he’s at Manchester City.
“I’d go O’Reilly at this moment in time, but there’s literally nothing between him and Lewis.”
That line sums up the dilemma: two emerging talents, both exciting, neither the finished article defensively.
Rooney turns back to Luke Shaw
For all the talk of inverted full-backs, box midfielders and playmaking defenders, Rooney’s priority is simple: balance.
He would bring back Manchester United’s Luke Shaw, the man who started at left-back at Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup, and build from there.
“We don’t need our full-backs to be the most attacking; we need them to defend,” Rooney said. “Keep the balance and let the attacking player win you the games.
“Luke Shaw can’t [attack] as much now, but what he can do is defend.”
In an England side stacked with attacking talent, Rooney’s logic is clear. Let the forwards tilt the game. Ask the full-backs to steady it.
Tuchel, though, has so far leaned towards youth and versatility, trusting O’Reilly and Hall to grow into the role while leaving Shaw to fight his way back.
The head coach now stands on the brink of his World Cup decision. Alexander-Arnold remains outside the circle. James, when fit, leads the right-back conversation. O’Reilly and Hall jostle on the left, with Shaw waiting in the wings.
Rooney and Jagielka have made their case. The only verdict that matters will come when Tuchel reads out his squad list – and when the first ball is kicked in North America.
