Rooney Critiques Tuchel for Excluding Alexander-Arnold

Former England captain Wayne Rooney criticized England manager Thomas Tuchel for omitting Trent Alexander-Arnold from the squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup, describing the decision as "mind-boggling." Rooney noted that Alexander-Arnold had been overlooked in Tuchel's last four England squads despite returning to regular action after recovering from a thigh injury earlier in the year. Speaking on his podcast, Rooney questioned the selection of Ben White over Alexander-Arnold, stating, "No disrespect to Ben White, I think he’s a fantastic player," but emphasized that Alexander-Arnold's inclusion was warranted.

Rooney acknowledged that Reece James is England's first-choice right back when fit but raised concerns about James's defensive consistency. Phil Jagielka supported Alexander-Arnold's inclusion, suggesting he would likely make the squad.

Rooney also discussed England's left-back options, praising Nico O'Reilly's attacking qualities while warning about his defensive weaknesses, and expressed trust in Luke Shaw's experience for major tournaments.