Lineker hints at Tuchel ‘personal issue’ with England star
Gary Lineker has questioned Thomas Tuchel’s continued exclusion of Trent Alexander-Arnold from the England squad, suggesting the decision may go beyond purely footballing reasons.
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, the former England striker said he could not understand why the Real Madrid defender has been overlooked, despite his technical ability.
“You obviously know I’m a big admirer of Trent,” Lineker said. “I think there’s something personal, because football-wise, there’s no argument.”
Tuchel, who took charge of England in October 2024, oversaw his 11th game as manager on Friday as his side drew 1-1 with Uruguay at Wembley. The German named an expanded 35-player squad for the international window and rotated heavily for the fixture.
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The squad featured the return of Ben White, called up for the first time since 2022, while Harvey Barnes made his first England appearance in nearly six years.
Alexander-Arnold, however, was again absent. His only involvement under Tuchel remains a brief substitute appearance against Andorra in June.
Lineker argued that, even if not a guaranteed starter, the 27-year-old offers qualities few others in the squad possess.
“I can’t see how he can not be in that squad because he has to improve your chances, even if it’s from the bench,” he said.
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He added that Tuchel may have concerns unrelated to ability, though he acknowledged the exact reasoning is unclear: “So I suspect there’s something that Tuchel does not like about Trent Alexander-Arnold…”
The England manager has instead favoured alternatives such as Reece James and Ben White at right-back, with competition for places remaining high.
Alexander-Arnold has not featured for England since June last year and has faced a mixed spell at club level following his move from Liverpool to Real Madrid in May 2025, where he has struggled to secure a consistent starting role.
The debate around his omission was reflected in the reaction at Wembley, where sections of the crowd booed White during the draw with Uruguay a response that underlined ongoing support among some fans for Alexander-Arnold’s return.
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Sources: SPORTbible, The Rest is Football podcast
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