England head coach Thomas Tuchel has revealed he plans to make personal visits to players omitted from his latest squad, including Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, to explain how they can force their way into World Cup contention.
Personal Approach for Omitted Stars
The German manager confirmed he maintains an extensive longlist of 55-60 players competing for places in his England setup. Few names carry more prominence than Alexander-Arnold, yet the Real Madrid right-back appears increasingly distant from international selection despite his club pedigree.
Alexander-Arnold's last England call-up came in June, with the defender playing minimal part in England's flawless qualifying campaign. His situation has grown more complicated with the emergence of Jarell Quansah, who made his debut in Sunday's 2-0 victory against Albania in Tirana.
Quansah Emerges as New Competition
Tuchel expressed significant faith in the Bayer Leverkusen defender, highlighting his complete skill set. "I have a lot of trust in Jarell," Tuchel stated. "I see his talent but I see the package. He is tall, he is fast, he is strong in buildup, he is strong in the air. I saw him very strong playing for Liverpool in this position."
The England boss acknowledged Quansah currently holds a slight advantage, noting his consistent playing time since the Under-21 European Championships. This development places additional pressure on Alexander-Arnold to rediscover his best form.
Comprehensive Communication Strategy
With only 25 players selected for this month's qualifiers against Albania and Serbia, Tuchel faces the task of communicating with approximately 30 omitted individuals. He outlined his preference for face-to-face discussions over telephone calls.
"I hate phone calls," Tuchel admitted. "Better on FaceTime. Then I see the expression, at least, and get a feeling for the person. Or I need to visit them, visit training, training grounds."
When questioned about potentially travelling to Madrid to meet Alexander-Arnold, Tuchel responded emphatically: "Why would I not?" He suggested efficient grouping of visits, mentioning the possibility of combining a Madrid trip with seeing Jude Bellingham.
The manager emphasised the importance of transparent communication, stating: "It's my job now to make contact with everyone... to reach out to them, be in touch with them, explain to them why they were not here. Explain to them what they have to do, where they can improve."
Tuchel anticipates numerous discussions before England's next gathering in March, when World Cup preparations intensify with two planned friendlies, potentially against Japan and Uruguay.
