Tuchel says Alexander-Arnold must prove himself
Thomas Tuchel has called on Trent Alexander-Arnold to prove himself for England after receiving a recall to the national team.
Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer were the notable returnees to the Three Lions squad, while Jarrad Branthwaite, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Lewis Hall and Myles Lewis-Skelly also received recalls.
The Real Madrid defender has won 34 caps for England, but missed out on a spot in its 2026 FIFA World Cup squad.
His most recent appearance for England came in June 2025, as he struggled for form under Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa at Madrid last season.
With Reece James and Ben White both missing out through injury, Tuchel believes Alexander-Arnold has the chance to prove his worth at right-back.
"[He needs to] perform, that's just what it is," Tuchel said of Alexander-Arnold.
"It is a competition and I understand the question because he was not with us at the World Cup. We trusted other players.
"I still stick with this decision and it is now time to fight for his place. He always said he is up for a fight, he always said he is up to fight for his place, especially for England so it is on him to prove himself and he is more than welcome in camp.
"We have a long camp and I am sure he will show up."
After finishing third at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, England's best performance at the competition since winning in 1966, Tuchel will now lead the Three Lions into their UEFA Nations League campaign.
Across the extended international break, England will face reigning FIFA World Cup and UEFA EURO champion Spain, as well as Czechia twice and Croatia.
Tuchel believes the motivation levels in the squad are high as it targets UEFA Nations League success.
"Next match is against the reigning world champions, Spain," Tuchel added.
"We feel the gap is closing, we feel we are close, we want to prove a point, stadium is sold out and the motivation cannot be any higher.
"The target is to go all the way now in [UEFA] Nations League. If we go all the way to the final four, we have another 10 matches, six matches are safe in the [UEFA] Nations League but we want to make it 10 matches to create another cycle."
Cole Palmer also received a recall, but there was still no place for Phil Foden.
Alex Scott and Rio Ngumoha, who were both part of England's training group for the 2026 FIFA World Cup warm-up matches, have also been called up to the squad.
Jarrad Branthwaite has received a recall, earning his only previous cap in June 2024, while Kobbie Mainoo remains in the squad despite not playing a single minute at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whose three Premier League goals this season are only bettered by Erling Haaland'sfour, is also in the 27-man squad.
England squad:
Jordan Pickford (Everton), Jason Steele (Brighton & Hove Albion), James Trafford (Leeds United); Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Trevoh Chalobah (Como), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Lewis Hall (Newcastle United), Ezri Konsa (Arsenal), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen); Elliot Anderson (Manchester City), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Alex Scott (Bournemouth); Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Morgan Rogers (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal).
Trent John Alexander-Arnold
England
