Maguire explains why Tuchel chose Chalobah over Alexander-Arnold for World Cup squad

Harry Maguire has offered a candid explanation for why Trent Alexander-Arnold was again overlooked by Thomas Tuchel, suggesting the England head coach prioritised a low-profile squad call-up over selecting one of the country’s most debated players.

When Newcastle right-back Tino Livramento was ruled out of the World Cup with a calf injury, Tuchel turned to Chelsea centre-back Trevoh Chalobah rather than Alexander-Arnold — the former Liverpool man who has found himself consistently on the periphery of the England setup despite returning to form at Real Madrid in the second half of the season.

Maguire, himself absent from the squad, explained the logic on the Rest is Football podcast. “When someone drops out like that, I do believe with the squad, you want to call up somebody with a minimum of fuss, no real media attention or disruption to the camp,” he said. “So I do believe when someone did get injured, I don’t think Trent would’ve ever been called up because the questions and everything will be about him.”

The Manchester United defender drew on his own situation to illustrate the point, noting that high-profile players attached to big clubs inevitably attract scrutiny that can unsettle preparations. “If he called me up, it would be about me, Luke Shaw the same — we’ve been to tournaments and play for big clubs. That’s what you want when you bring someone up on standby. Congratulations to Trevoh, I hope he has an impact on the squad.”

Maguire was careful not to suggest any personal rift between Alexander-Arnold and Tuchel, framing the decision as pragmatic rather than punitive. The 27-year-old has earned 34 caps for the Three Lions, but his sole appearance under the German coach came in a 1-0 win over Andorra in June 2025.

Alexander-Arnold’s omission has drawn widespread criticism, with many observers viewing him as one of England’s most creative attacking outlets. Injury disrupted his availability earlier in the season, but he re-established himself at Real Madrid before the tournament, strengthening the case of those who believe he deserves a place in the squad.

England open their World Cup campaign against Croatia — opponents they defeated in the 2018 semi-final — with Tuchel under pressure to deliver a tournament run that has eluded the nation for 60 years, following back-to-back European Championship final defeats.