Kyle Walker has spoken out strongly about Trent Alexander-Arnold’s absence from England’s World Cup squad. According to Walker, it is incomprehensible that a Real Madrid player has been left out of head coach Thomas Tuchel’s squad.
Walker questions Tuchel decision after Alexander-Arnold World Cup omission
Kyle Walker has openly questioned one of the most debated decisions in England’s final World Cup squad, after Trent Alexander-Arnold was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s selection. The omission of the Real Madrid defender has quickly become one of the major talking points around the squad announcement, especially because Alexander-Arnold remains one of the most technically gifted English players of his generation.
The final squad was confirmed on Thursday, but the absence of Alexander-Arnold immediately stood out. Cole Palmer and Phil Foden were also not included, adding even more weight to the discussion around Tuchel’s choices. For Walker, who has 96 England caps and has shared a dressing room with Alexander-Arnold at international level, the decision is extremely difficult to understand.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Walker made it clear that he believes Alexander-Arnold should have been part of the squad. The former England defender did not hide his surprise, especially given the status Alexander-Arnold now carries after moving to Real Madrid.
“For a Real Madrid player not to be in the England squad is unheard of,” Walker said, making clear just how strongly he feels about the situation.
A decision that has surprised many in England
Alexander-Arnold has always been a player who divides opinion when it comes to the England national team. At club level, his qualities have rarely been questioned. His passing range, creativity, crossing ability and vision have made him one of the most influential full-backs in modern football. However, with England, the debate has often focused on whether he fits naturally into the tactical structure of the team.
That discussion has followed him for several years. Some managers have seen him as a right-back, others have considered him as a midfield option, and others have struggled to find a role that fully maximises his strengths without exposing possible defensive weaknesses. For Walker, though, the conversation around Alexander-Arnold has become too negative.
“Everyone talks about what Trent does not do well. Let us talk about what he does do well,” Walker said. “He is probably the best right-back in the world when it comes to passing, crossing and assists. And then there is his huge track record in big matches. The fact that he is not included is madness.”
Walker’s comments reflect a wider frustration among those who believe England should find a way to include its most talented players, even if that means adapting the tactical plan. Alexander-Arnold is not a conventional defender, but very few players in world football can influence a game from deep positions in the same way. His ability to break lines with one pass, switch play under pressure and deliver decisive balls into the penalty area gives him a profile that England do not easily replace.
Walker still calls for unity behind Tuchel
Despite his disagreement with the decision, Walker was also careful not to turn his comments into a direct attack on Tuchel. The England manager has made his choice, and Walker stressed that the squad now needs support rather than division.
“But for some reason, the head coach has chosen this approach. And listen, he is our manager at the World Cup and we have to trust him. I think the more we get behind the boys, the better things will go,” Walker said.
That balance is important. Walker clearly believes Alexander-Arnold should be on the plane, but he also understands the pressure that surrounds tournament football. Once a final squad is named, the debate rarely disappears, but the focus quickly shifts to whether the selected players can deliver. Tuchel will know that every major decision he has taken will be analysed in detail, especially if England struggle to create chances or lack invention in possession.
The omission of Alexander-Arnold is particularly interesting because it suggests Tuchel may be prioritising defensive security, tactical discipline or a different balance in the squad. Tournament football often forces managers to make difficult decisions, and sometimes that means leaving out high-profile names. Even so, excluding a player with Alexander-Arnold’s technical level is always going to create debate.
Foden absence adds another layer to the debate
Walker was also surprised by the absence of Phil Foden, another player whose talent has rarely been questioned. Foden has long been regarded as one of England’s most naturally gifted attacking players, capable of playing between the lines, drifting into central areas and deciding matches with moments of quality.
“That is a shock to me, because I know what Phil can do,” Walker said.
The fact that Foden and Palmer were also left out makes Tuchel’s squad selection even more striking. Both players offer creativity, technical control and attacking imagination, qualities that are often crucial in major tournaments when matches are tight and opponents defend deep. England have often been criticised in previous competitions for lacking fluency in the biggest moments, which makes the absence of several creative players even more notable.
For supporters, the debate will naturally centre on what Tuchel wants this England side to be. Is he building a more controlled, physically balanced and tactically disciplined team? Is he choosing players who fit a very specific structure rather than simply selecting the most talented individuals? Or has he made a call that could come back to haunt him if England lack invention at key moments?
A major call before a major tournament
Every England manager enters a World Cup knowing that squad selection can define the mood before the tournament even begins. The players left out often generate as much discussion as the players included. In this case, the names missing are too important to ignore.
Alexander-Arnold’s absence will be particularly difficult for many fans to accept because he offers something different. He is not just another full-back. He is a playmaker from deep, a set-piece specialist and a player capable of changing the rhythm of a match with one pass. Those qualities are rare, and Walker clearly feels England are taking a risk by leaving them behind.
At the same time, Tuchel will be judged by results. If England perform well and go deep into the tournament, the debate around Alexander-Arnold, Foden and Palmer may eventually fade. But if the team struggles to create chances or lacks attacking spark, these omissions will return to the centre of the conversation very quickly.
Walker’s comments have given a strong voice to what many supporters are already thinking. He accepts that Tuchel is the manager and that the squad must now be backed, but he has also made it clear that, in his view, leaving Alexander-Arnold out is extremely difficult to justify.
For now, the decision has been made. England will go into the World Cup without Alexander-Arnold, Foden and Palmer, and Tuchel will have to prove that his choices were the right ones. Walker, however, is not convinced, and his words have only intensified the debate around one of the most controversial England squad announcements in recent memory.
