Why Thomas Tuchel must ignore Trent Alexander-Arnold’s flaws and take him to World Cup

Madrid—Thomas Tuchel left the Bernabéu on Tuesday night with more questions than answers, yet one conclusion should already be etched into his notebook: Trent Alexander-Arnold must be on England’s final 23-man roster for the World Cup, warts and all.

The 27-year-old started at right-back for Real Madrid in their 2-1 first-leg defeat to Bayern Munich, a fixture the England manager chose ahead of the other Champions League quarter-finals precisely to examine fringe candidates for the summer tournament in the United States. Harry Kane’s predatory finish 20 seconds after the restart underlined why the captain is inked into the XI, but Tuchel’s real focus was on the margins of his squad list—none more debated than Alexander-Arnold’s.

Omitted from the most recent England squad and overtaken in the pecking order by Ben White, the former Liverpool full-back has been painted as a luxury item too brittle for knockout football. Bayern targeted that reputation, stationing Fede Valverde on the right to double up on Luis Díaz’s inevitable dashes at Alexander-Arnold. The plan bore fruit when Díaz ghosted behind his old team-mate to open the scoring late in the half, exposing the defensive frailty that has become Tuchel’s chief reservation.

Yet the same 45 minutes also showcased the upside Madrid bought last summer: flat, inviting set-pieces that forced Manuel Neuer into awkward punches and, critically, the 63rd-minute cross that invited Kylian Mbappé to equalise with a header he could not miss. It was the sort of delivery no other English right-back can replicate, a point underlined by the current depth chart: Reece James, if fit, is the presumed starter, while Newcastle’s Tino Livramento intrigues but does not terrise defences in the final third.

Tuchel does not need to be convinced that Alexander-Arnold can defend like a traditional full-back; he needs to be convinced that England can mitigate the flaw while amplifying the weapon. Against early-group opponents who will sit deep in Dallas, Miami and Pasadena, possession dominance and set-piece precision could decide whether the Three Lions top the section. In that context, Alexander-Arnold is not a gamble but a strategic multiplier.

The same calculation applies to Jude Bellingham, who eased any lingering doubts about his own place with a 28-minute cameo that transformed the midfield dynamic. Since Tuchel’s arrival, Bellingham has looked peripheral, even irritated—most notably when hauled off against Albania in November—but his introduction in the 62nd minute re-energised Madrid. Surging carries drew three Bayern midfielders toward him, freeing Vinícius Júnior and Mbappé on the outside, and a slide-rule through-ball should have yielded the Frenchman’s second but for Neuer’s sprawling save.

With Phil Foden and Cole Palmer out of form, Tuchel appears settled on a midfield three of Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson and Bellingham—less creative on paper, yet balanced and physically robust. Bellingham’s brief but commanding display was a timely reminder that big tournaments are decided by players who demand the ball when the stadium is loudest; he did exactly that.

Tuesday night did not hand Tuchel a flawless Alexander-Arnold, nor did it solve every midfield permutation. It did, however, offer proof that both players possess qualities that cannot be coached in a six-week camp. For a manager still finalising the last seats on the plane, that is information worth more than any spreadsheet.

Ignore the noise, ignore the positional risk: when England kick off against Croatia on 17 June, the ability to change a game in a single moment will matter more than positional purity. Trent Alexander-Arnold provides that dimension. Tuchel must ensure he is on American soil this summer, flaws included.