Alexander‑Arnold’s Uneven Show Stokes Thomas Tuchel’s Doubts as Harry Kane Shines

Thomas Tuchel kept a close eye on the performance of Trent Alexander‑Arnold and Jude Bellingham at Real Madrid, while also monitoring Harry Kane in his role as Bayern’s principal scorer.

After the match, Thomas Tuchel left with confirmation of earlier doubts about Trent Alexander‑Arnold and with clear evidence that both Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane are essential assets for England’s World Cup opener against Croatia.

Champions League evenings at the Bernabeu always carry a special aura. Thousands of supporters gather around the iconic stadium long before the whistle, while a sea of white‑clad fans congregates on Plaza de los Sagrados Corazones to welcome the home side’s bus.

The atmosphere intensified when a warm Madrid afternoon quickly turned into a downpour, bathing the arena in dramatic darkness and setting the stage for a classic clash of European titans.

The encounter concluded with Bayern Munich emerging victorious 2‑1, a result that produced contrasting narratives for the three players under Thomas Tuchel’s scrutiny.

Trent Alexander‑Arnold: A Study in Contradiction

Trent Alexander‑Arnold presents perhaps the most intriguing case for Thomas Tuchel. The 27‑year‑old transferred from Liverpool to Real Madrid last summer, yet his early days at the Spanish club have been uneven, and Thomas Tuchel omitted him from England’s 35‑man squad for the friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.

Compounding the setback, when Thomas Tuchel later called for replacements, the coach chose Ben White—a player not regularly featured for Arsenal and currently in a self‑imposed exile following the 2022 World Cup—over Trent Alexander‑Arnold. This decision underscores the difficulty Trent Alexander‑Arnold faces in altering Thomas Tuchel’s perception at this stage.

During the first half of the Champions League match, Trent Alexander‑Arnold struggled to find rhythm. An errant pass directly to Michael Olise nearly gifted Bayern Munich a goal, and a misplaced ball allowed former Liverpool teammate Luis Diaz to create the opening strike for the visitors.

These moments displayed the defensive frailties that Thomas Tuchel has previously highlighted regarding Trent Alexander‑Arnold. Yet, when the match swung in favour of Real Madrid, Trent Alexander‑Arnold produced a series of dangerous set‑pieces, culminating in a low cross that enabled Kylian Mbappe to pull a goal back for Bayern Munich.

This sequence encapsulated the duality of Trent Alexander‑Arnold’s performance—flashes of creativity intertwined with moments of unreliability. Statistically, Trent Alexander‑Arnold completed only 69.2 % of passes, the lowest success rate of any player on the pitch.

Given these mixed signals, it is unlikely that Thomas Tuchel will reshuffle his preconceived shortlist for the England squad based solely on this single appearance.

Jude Bellingham’s Impactful Entrance

While Jude Bellingham spent the first hour of the match on the bench, recovering from a hamstring issue, the tumultuous atmosphere within the Bernabeu prompted the manager to introduce the English midfielder late in the game.

Upon entering, Jude Bellingham unleashed his characteristic surging runs, injecting fresh momentum into Real Madrid’s attacks during the final thirty minutes. The display reaffirmed why Thomas Tuchel is eager to assess Jude Bellingham for a pivotal role in England’s midfield.

The competition for England’s number‑10 jersey now centres on Jude Bellingham alongside other candidates such as Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa, Cole Palmer, and Eberechi Eze. Jude Bellingham’s cameo underscored the difficulty for Thomas Tuchel to overlook the midfielder when deciding on the starting XI for the World Cup.

Harry Kane’s Decisive Strike

All eyes were on Harry Kane, who not only represents Bayern Munich in this match but also serves as England’s record‑setting goalscorer. Concerns surrounding Harry Kane have largely revolved around fitness, rather than ability.

When Harry Kane was omitted from England’s recent friendlies, the side appeared lacking in attacking force. However, during the Champions League clash, Harry Kane started for Bayern Munich, prompting a wave of enthusiasm among the travelling supporters.

The first half saw Harry Kane operating at a measured tempo, perhaps reflecting the recent spell of inactivity. Yet, immediately after the interval, Harry Kane seized an opportunity: a clean pass 20 yards from goal was met with a perfectly placed low drive into the bottom corner, leaving Andriy Lunin with no chance of a save.

Following the goal, Harry Kane reflected on the challenge of delivering a result in a hostile environment, noting the importance of capitalising on chances and the significance of the season’s final phase.

This moment crystallised why England’s campaign would be severely hampered without Harry Kane on the pitch. For Thomas Tuchel, the strike served as a vivid reminder of the elite striker at his disposal and the difficulty of envisioning a successful World Cup without him.

Implications for England’s World Cup Squad

The Champions League night offered Thomas Tuchel concrete evidence to inform his upcoming selections. Trent Alexander‑Arnold’s inconsistent display, highlighted by the low pass completion percentage, reinforces earlier reservations. Jude Bellingham’s late‑game dynamism provides a compelling argument for inclusion, while Harry Kane’s decisive goal underscores his indispensability.

As England prepares for its opening World Cup fixture against Croatia, the coaching staff must weigh these observations against the broader tactical framework. The balance between defensive solidity, midfield creativity, and attacking potency will hinge on the final squad composition.

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