Roy Keane maintains that ‘there’s something going on’ between Thomas Tuchel and Trent Alexander-Arnold as he criticizes a ‘not good’ England quartet selected for the forthcoming internationals.
In what will be the players’ final opportunity to make an impression for the Three Lions before the World Cup this summer, Tuchel selected a 35-man group to play Uruguay on Friday and Japan on Tuesday.
Despite regaining some form and fitness at Real Madrid in recent weeks, Alexander-Arnold has only made one appearance under Tuchel and was left out of the team.
Keane is perplexed that Alexander-Arnold isn’t given a shot ahead of the right-back options, who are “not even good defenders,” despite the fact that the former Liverpool star has been constant criticism for his subpar defensive play despite his skill with the ball at his feet.
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Djed Spence, Tino Livramento, Ezri Konsa, and Ben White—who was called up to replace the injured Jarell Quansah—will compete to start on the right side of the Three Lions defence because first-choice right-back Reece James was sidelined due to injury.
Keane Speaks
Keane said on Stick to Football: “The strange thing is when people say about Trent and his defensive stuff, but he must look at the other defenders ahead of him and go: ‘Well they’re not great defensively either!’
“It’s not as if Tuchel is going, that’s going to be rock solid at the back, some of the lads ahead of him, they’re not even good defenders. There’s something going on.
“We keep talking about the England squad and saying, well they can play in different roles. You want lads who are really good, don’t be a jack of all trades.
“Ben White’s only played seven league games for Arsenal. Seven!
“You look at that squad and analyse it, defensively that England squad is not good, defensively.”
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