Alexander-Arnold's Assist Against Czech Republic Makes Case for Tuchel's Trust
Trent Alexander-Arnold's first start under Thomas Tuchel produced a decisive assist in England's win over the Czech Republic, raising questions about his future role.
Trent Alexander-Arnold made his first start for England under head coach Thomas Tuchel in the Nations League match against the Czech Republic in Prague. The right-back, now at Real Madrid, had been overlooked for England's World Cup squad and had not started since October 2024. His recall came as a surprise after a long period on the margins under Tuchel, who had used eight other right-backs in his 24 games in charge.
With England struggling to break down ten-man Czech Republic, who had Pavel Sulc sent off after 25 minutes for a reckless challenge on Elliot Anderson, Alexander-Arnold delivered a moment of quality two minutes after half-time. He regained possession and curled a right-footed cross beyond three defenders for Anthony Gordon to head in. The assist highlighted his ability to create chances from deep, a trait Tuchel acknowledged afterwards.
Tuchel told BBC Radio 5 Live that Alexander-Arnold 'did very well' and produced an 'excellent assist', adding that the player's deeper second-half position suited him. Gordon praised Alexander-Arnold's unique passing ability and expressed his enjoyment at playing alongside him. The defender himself said it was 'amazing' to represent his country again and that he had always believed he could play for England.
However, doubts about Alexander-Arnold's defending persist, and Tuchel has previously favoured other options. The article notes that Gareth Southgate's attempt to use him as a midfielder at Euro 2024 lasted only 54 minutes. While Alexander-Arnold's attacking statistics were strong—only Elliot Anderson made more passes in the final third—his defensive test did not come in this game.
England went on to secure the three points with Harry Kane's 87th international goal. The win got their Nations League campaign underway after a 3-2 loss to Spain. Alexander-Arnold may get another chance against Croatia in Rijeka on Saturday, a match played behind closed doors. The coming games could determine whether Tuchel fully trusts him, with the article suggesting this camp is close to make-or-break for the 27-year-old.
Image: Getty Images / BBC Sport
