In a surprising turn of events, Trent Alexander-Arnold has been omitted from England's squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia. This marks the first squad announcement since the right-back's high-profile move from Liverpool to Real Madrid.

England manager Thomas Tuchel has preferred other right-back options, including Reece James (Chelsea), Djed Spence (Tottenham), and Tino Livramento (Newcastle). The decision to leave out Alexander-Arnold is particularly noteworthy given his experience in major tournaments and his renowned ability to contribute creatively from deep positions.

Several factors may have contributed to Tuchel's decision. Alexander-Arnold has faced challenges adapting to La Liga since joining Real Madrid earlier this summer. While he started in Madrid's first La Liga game, he was benched for the second to accommodate a returning Dani Carvajal. Tuchel had previously cautioned Alexander-Arnold about the need to focus on the defensive aspects of his game, emphasizing that a single mistake at the World Cup could be costly.

However, there are other notable inclusions and omissions in the squad. Marcus Rashford, who joined Barcelona on loan this season, has been included despite limited playing time. Rashford has only started once in two games and has yet to score or assist, but Tuchel believes he can still make an impact in attack. Experienced defenders such as John Stones, Marc Guehi, Dan Burn, and Ezri Konsa have been selected to provide stability at the back. Harry Kane will continue to captain the team, with Ollie Watkins providing support in attack.

Some other prominent players have also missed out on selection. Harry Maguire has been excluded due to his ongoing struggles with form. Kyle Walker and Ivan Toney were also not selected. Injury concerns have sidelined key players like Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Levi Colwill.

In addition to Alexander-Arnold's omission, Tuchel has handed first senior call-ups to Elliot Anderson and Djed Spence. Anderson's inclusion is a reward for his impressive performances with the Under-21s, where he played a key role in their European Championship victory. Spence's versatility is also appealing to Tuchel, as he can play in both full-back positions.

England, who finished as runners-up at Euro 2024, have had a strong start in their World Cup qualifying campaign under Tuchel, winning all three of their matches so far. They currently lead their group with nine points, ahead of Albania, Serbia, and Latvia. The remaining qualifiers are scheduled for October and November. The group winners will automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, while the runners-up will have to go through a playoff.