Former England national football team captain Wayne Rooney has criticised England manager Thomas Tuchel for leaving Trent Alexander Arnold out of recent squads ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Rooney described the decision as “mind boggling” especially after Alexander Arnold returned to regular action for Real Madrid following recovery from a thigh injury earlier this year.
Speaking on the Wayne Rooney Podcast the former Manchester United striker questioned why Ben White had been selected ahead of the former Liverpool defender.
Rooney said Ben White is a fantastic player but insisted it made little sense for him to be preferred over Alexander Arnold considering the latter’s experience and quality at the highest level.
England recently included defenders Tino Livramento Djed Spence and Ezri Konsa among the options for their final home friendlies before the 2026 World Cup which will be hosted by Canada Mexico and the United States.
Rooney admitted that if fully fit Reece James would still be his preferred choice at right back despite concerns about the defender’s consistency and defensive reliability.
Former England defender Phil Jagielka also backed Alexander Arnold to make the World Cup squad stressing that England should take their best players to the tournament.
Jagielka said Alexander Arnold’s performances over the years for Liverpool prove he deserves a place on the plane if he maintains that level of form.
The discussion also focused on England’s left back options with Rooney preferring the experience of Luke Shaw while Jagielka praised the ing ability of Nico O’Reilly.
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