Tuchel warns Maguire's public outburst 'didn't help' his England World Cup chances

Thomas Tuchel has delivered a blunt assessment of Harry Maguire’s England future, stating that the Manchester United defender’s public response to his World Cup squad exclusion “didn’t help” his chances of a recall, while Trent Alexander-Arnold has been brought back into the squad for the Nations League campaign.

Maguire was among those axed from England’s 26-man squad for the summer tournament, and his mother subsequently said she was “absolutely disgusted” by the decision. Tuchel, who has called up Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite in Maguire’s place, stopped short of permanently closing the door on the centre-back but left little ambiguity about where things stand.

“It doesn’t help. It does not help,” Tuchel said of the reaction to Maguire’s omission. “I will not hold it against him for the rest of his life because I’m not that type of person. I can forget easily and quickly, but I didn’t like it and it doesn’t help.”

Alexander-Arnold’s return comes after the Real Madrid full-back was also left out of the World Cup squad, with the absences of Ben White and Reece James through injury creating an opening. Tuchel confirmed he had not spoken to Alexander-Arnold before selecting him this time, but had taken note of the player’s public desire to return to the international fold.

“I spoke to him before the World Cup and told him my decision and this time it was the good news,” Tuchel said. “He heard the good news over the nomination.”

However, the England head coach made clear that Alexander-Arnold’s recall comes with conditions. The 26-year-old’s attacking instincts have long been a source of debate at international level, and Tuchel was unequivocal that defensive improvement is non-negotiable.

“He has to, he has to. It’s necessary. My conviction is that he will but he has no choice,” Tuchel said. “I know what he is capable of. I know about his talent. I know what he is saying — that he is desperate to play for England and he will fight for his shirt. So here we are. He is in camp and he has the chance. It’s a long camp and it’s a good moment to show up.”

Tuchel also used the press conference to insist he retains the full backing of his squad, following a period of scrutiny after England’s World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, in which the German coach was notably critical of the team’s footballing identity.