Roy Keane hasn't held back in his assessment of four players in Thomas Tuchel's England squad for upcoming friendlies against Uruguay and Japan. With the 2026 World Cup just around the corner, the Three Lions' boss is making final preparations.
However, one of the biggest talking points surrounding his most recent squad announcement was the notable absence of Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold. The 27-year-old, who has been starting regularly for the Spanish giants in recent weeks, was once again overlooked by his national team.
That was often the case under Gareth Southgate, and it doesn't look like under Tuchel's stewardship. With question marks over his defensive ability throughout his career, Keane has suggested it may be his attitude away from the pitch that's keeping him out of Tuchel's plans.
Roy Keane Unimpressed With England Quartet
england thomas tuchel
When discussing the England squad on a recent episode of The Overlap's podcast, Keane didn't hold back with his feelings on the weakest part of the Three Lions' team. When discussing the players selected ahead of Alexander-Arnold, Keane was heavily critical.
With Reece James injured and both Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier retired internationally, the door appeared wide open for the ex-Liverpool man to step back into the fold. However, Djed Spence, Tino Livramento, Ezri Konsa and even Ben White were the preferred right-back candidates.
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Speaking about the criticism Alexander-Arnold often gets for the defensive side of his game, the Manchester United legend claimed that the four men ahead of him in the pecking order are 'not even good defenders'. He said:
"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."
While Ian Wright pointed out that White, Livramento, Konsa and Spence are all versatile and can play in more than one role, Keane stil wasn't having it, as he responded: "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."
White, in particular, was an unexpected call-up as he's hardly featured for Arsenal this season and hasn't been involved with the national team since a fallout in 2022. Keane pointed out: "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," he concluded. It remains to be seen who Tuchel will favour between the four men, but all have question marks above their heads, in the eyes of the midfielder-turned-pundit.
Watch the full discussion (1:23:20 onwards):
Keane's Theory on Alexander-Arnold Snub
Trent Alexander-Arnold in action for Real Madrid
Keane then hinted that a possible reason for Tuchel to continue overlooking one of the best Premier League defenders ever could be down to matters off the pitch.
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The Real Madrid defender has been pipped by Ben White, despite injuries to Reece James and former teammate Jarrell Quansah.
"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," he said. While claiming the player needs to take accountability, he then said he thinks his absence can't be for football reasons.
"You must think, ‘how have I not done enough to persuade a manager to get me in a squad?’ There must be something.
"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."