Keane Suspects Tension Between Tuchel and Alexander-Arnold as Pundit Slams England's Right-Back Options

Roy Keane has raised eyebrows over the apparent rift between Thomas Tuchel and Trent Alexander-Arnold, launching a broadside at the "not good" selection of right-backs named in England's latest squad.

With internationals against Uruguay on Friday and Japan the following Tuesday looming as final auditions before this summer's World Cup, Tuchel has assembled a 35-man group. Yet the former Liverpool defender has been notably overlooked despite returning to full fitness and regaining form at Real Madrid recently.

Alexander-Arnold has managed just a single outing under Tuchel's management. His exclusion from the squad has raised questions, particularly given the alternatives now competing for the position.

Reece James, the first-choice option, is sidelined through injury. That leaves Djed Spence, Tino Livramento, Ezri Konsa and Ben White – drafted back into the fold following Jarell Quansah's injury setback – to battle for the right-back berth.

Keane, speaking on Stick to Football, expressed bewilderment at the arrangement. "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!'" the pundit remarked.

"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."

The former Manchester United captain was particularly scathing about White's inclusion, noting the Arsenal full-back has featured in just seven league matches for his club this season. "You look at that squad and analyse it, defensively that England squad is not good, defensively," Keane concluded.

On the broader squad philosophy, he added: "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."

Regarding Alexander-Arnold's absence from even the extended group, Keane believes responsibility lies with the player. "If you're a player like Trent and you're left out of a 35-man squad, I still think that's on you, that's on the player. You must think, 'how have I not done enough to persuade a manager to get me in a squad?' There must be something."

Keane suspects the issue transcends tactical considerations. "It's about in the group. Tuchel said from day one, 'I need lads who are good travellers', all this type of thing and there's something obviously about him he doesn't like. It can't be football. You don't have to like everybody, but there's something amiss, of course," he said.