David Beckham appears to be at odds with England manager Thomas Tuchel over the fate of 1 England player ahead of the World Cup.
Tuchel is hoping to construct on Sir Gareth Southgate’s promising but ultimately trophy-less reign by leading England to their first World Cup trophy since 1966 this summer.
Two March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan gave Tuchel one last likelihood to get a take a look at which players will make the plane and be chosen in England’s World Cup squad.
Tuchel opted to call an expanded 35-man squad for the games against Uruguay and Japan, with two uncapped players in Everton midfielder James Garner and Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele getting the nod.
There have been recalls for Manchester United duo Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo and a primary pick for AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori since 2023.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was perhaps essentially the most high-profile player to miss out, with Tuchel making the ‘tough decision’ to omit the Real Madrid star and ex-Liverpool defender.
‘I do know what Trent can provide us and I made a decision still to keep on with the players with us,’ Tuchel said. ‘I realize it’s difficult to depart out a player like Trent.
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‘We spoke on the phone and I explained the situation. He must accept it. It’s a sporting decision.’
Former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney said it was ‘incredible’ that Alexander-Arnold was unnoticed of England’s squad and suggested there was ‘no way back’ for the talented 27-year-old.
Beckham also appears to disagree with Tuchel’s stance over Alexander-Arnold, insisting he would ‘find it very hard’ to not take him to the World Cup.
Asked about Tuchel’s decision to omit Alexander-Arnold, Beckham told talkSPORT: ‘That’s why I’m not England manager, because I don’t need to make those decisions!
‘But, I’m an enormous fan of Trent, I like Trent as a player. I’ve heard so repeatedly over time when he was at Liverpool, when he’s at Madrid, when he’s playing for England, about, “Well, he’s not pretty much as good at defending as he’s going forward”.
‘Well, sometimes you may have to simply accept that… Roberto Carlos was an unbelievable defender, but he was also unbelievable going forward.
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‘He’d at all times go forward, after which we’d need to cover him, so those type of stuff you expect. But with Trent, would I take him? I’d find it very hard to not take someone like Trent.
‘But then Thomas, he’s come out and said, I believe I read it this morning, that there are other players which might be ahead of him in the intervening time. But he said “in the intervening time”, so that might change.
‘These friendlies might prove that other players are playing that may not get within the squad, so that you don’t know.
‘This could be very near picking a final squad, but I still think that Thomas might be still considering about Trent as well.’
England were held to a 1-1 draw by Uruguay on Friday night and shall be in search of a greater result – and performance – against Japan on Tuesday.
Tuchel’s side are in Group L for the World Cup and begin their campaign against Croatia on June 17 before facing Ghana and Panama for a spot within the knockout stages.
Ex-Chelsea boss Tuchel was only expected to be accountable for England until the top of the World Cup but signed a contract extension last month until after Euro 2028.
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