Legends slam Tuchel’s omission of Alexander‑Arnold as England limp

England survived a tense Round of 16 World Cup clash with the Democratic Republic of Congo thanks to a late Harry Kane strike, but the match exposed a worrying lack of threat from the right side, prompting Manchester United legends Wayne Rooney, Roy Keane and Gary Neville to publicly question Thomas Tuchel’s decision to leave Trent Alexander‑Arnold out of the squad.

England entered the Round of 16 against Congo DR with a line‑up that omitted Trent Alexander‑Arnold, sparking debate among former players. The right side struggled from the start, as right‑back Djed Spence and right winger Noni Madueke failed to create any clear chances.

The match remained deadlocked until the final minutes, when Harry Kane produced a decisive strike to clinch the win for England. The late goal highlighted the team's reliance on a single moment of magic rather than sustained attacking fluency.

Former England captain Wayne Rooney said the defence was “a big worry” and accused Thomas Tuchel of simply not liking Trent Alexander‑Arnold. Gary Neville added that “in a 26‑man squad, how can we not have a place for Trent?” and criticised the makeshift right‑back option of Quansah. Roy Keane summed the situation up as “a head scratcher”.

Alexander‑Arnold’s omission comes after a difficult debut season at Real Madrid, where fitness and consistency issues limited his impact. The Spanish giants are also preparing to sign Dutch full‑back Denzel Dumfries, a move seen as direct competition for the England international under new manager Jose Mourinho.

With the World Cup campaign now over, Alexander‑Arnold will face a battle for his club position next season, while England’s right flank remains a concern for Tuchel ahead of future fixtures. The criticism from the Manchester United legends underscores the pressure on the England manager to reassess his squad selections.