Thomas Tuchel slams door on Harry Maguire's international career | OneFootball

Thomas Tuchel has effectively closed the door on Harry Maguire’s England career, while issuing a defensive ultimatum to Trent Alexander-Arnold after a ruthless squad reshuffle following the World Cup exit.

According to Goal.com, Maguire has been omitted again for the Nations League, having already missed the recent World Cup, with Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite preferred, leaving a recall looking highly unlikely.

Alexander-Arnold, now at Real Madrid and absent from the summer tournament, has been handed a lifeline as injuries to Arsenal right-back Ben White and Chelsea captain Reece James opened the door.

Tuchel has demanded immediate defensive improvement from the full-back, challenging him to raise that side of his game.

Maguire had publicly criticised his World Cup snub and his mother said she was absolutely disgusted, a reaction Tuchel felt did not help and which he disliked, though he said he would not hold it against the player.

On Alexander-Arnold, Tuchel said the defender must improve, expressed belief he can, and noted he is in camp with the chance to show it over a long camp.

Tuchel added he had not spoken to Alexander-Arnold before this call-up, having explained his World Cup decision previously, and that the defender learned of the news via the nomination.

England are rebuilding after a World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, a loss that prompted Tuchel to question the team’s footballing DNA and tactical discipline after defensive substitutions backfired.

Despite that friction, he remains confident in dressing-room unity after 18 months in charge, insisting they will build on a solid foundation with the target of winning the home Euros.

Source: Goal.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”