Axed Alexander-Arnold Faces Fight at Real Madrid and for England
Real Madrid's Trent Alexander-Arnold faces challenges for club and country after being dropped by England head coach Thomas Tuchel

Axed Alexander-Arnold Faces Fight at Real Madrid and for England

Axed Alexander-Arnold Faces Fight at Real Madrid and for England

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s hopes of becoming a central figure for both Real Madrid and England have taken a major blow, as he was dropped by Thomas Tuchel for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia.

This decision compounds a tough start to life in Spain for the 26-year-old, who only recently moved from Liverpool to Los Blancos on a free transfer. After being hauled off after 68 minutes in his La Liga debut against Osasuna, Alexander-Arnold was benched for the win over Oviedo and is now out of Tuchel’s England plans entirely.

Tuchel’s Brutal Message: No Room for Error

Speaking about the squad exclusion, Tuchel confirmed he chose Reece James and Tino Livramento over Trent, citing “competition” as the decisive factor.

“Big players and big personalities,” Tuchel said. “But in this camp, we decided for competition. The competition is up.”

Tuchel previously criticized Alexander-Arnold’s defensive discipline, insisting he must take that part of the game “very seriously” if he hopes to thrive at international level. His concerns mirror those of former manager Gareth Southgate, who previously experimented with Trent in midfield during Euro 2024, only to drop him from the role after early struggles.

Real Madrid Role Under Threat

At Real Madrid, things aren’t smoother. Club legend Dani Carvajal has returned from a long-term injury and immediately reclaimed the right-back position, adding pressure on Alexander-Arnold to prove he belongs.

Spanish media and fans are already raising questions. According to BBC pundit Guillem Balague, the narrative is that Trent doesn’t fit, describing him as “too shy” and “not adapting fast enough” to Xabi Alonso’s tactical demands.

“Carvajal understands what Xabi wants. Trent has to educate himself quickly,” Balague said. “It will be difficult to take Carvajal out of the line-up.”

From Midfield Experiments to Squad Exclusion

Alexander-Arnold’s national team career has never fully taken flight. In June, he played only 26 minutes off the bench against Andorra and didn’t feature at all against Senegal. Before that, his brief stint as a midfielder at Euro 2024 ended in frustration after he was subbed off just nine minutes into the second half against Denmark.

Though he scored the winning penalty in the quarter-final shootout versus Switzerland, it now feels like an isolated highlight.

Club & Country at a Crossroads

What was once shaping up as the most exciting chapter of Alexander-Arnold’s career—a move to Real Madrid, World Cup ambitions with England—has quickly turned into a battle for relevance.

With Carvajal in form at Madrid and Tuchel looking elsewhere for England’s right-back spot, Trent must now fight on two fronts to secure his place. For now, the stage is set, but he’s watching it from the sidelines.

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