Tuchel England squad Alexander-Arnold dropped shock as England boss leaves out Trent Alexander-Arnold and others in 35-man World Cup audition list
England manager Thomas Tuchel has sparked widespread debate after omitting Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold from a 35-man England squad announced in London on Friday, in a dramatic reshuffle ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking a major Tuchel England squad Alexander-Arnold dropped shock.
Tuchel described the selection as the final opportunity for players to secure their place at the World Cup, stressing that the camp would serve as a decisive audition for international selection.
“It’s our last camp before the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The last opportunity to impress and compete for their ticket,” Tuchel said while unveiling the squad.
The decision to leave out Alexander-Arnold, alongside Ollie Watkins and Alex Scott, has drawn significant attention, with the England coach acknowledging the difficulty of the call while insisting he is already aware of what some established players can offer.
“I know what Trent can give us and I decided still to stick with the players with us,” he explained.
The Tuchel England squad Alexander-Arnold dropped shock was further amplified by several surprise inclusions, including first senior call-ups for James Garner and goalkeeper Jason Steele, who has yet to feature in the Premier League this season.
Tuchel also recalled experienced defender Harry Maguire and included midfield prospect Kobbie Mainoo, while England captain Harry Kane and key attacker Jude Bellingham both retained their places despite fitness concerns.
The squad features a blend of youth and experience across all departments, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin returning to the setup after a prolonged absence and Dominic Solanke also handed another opportunity to impress.
England are scheduled to face Uruguay and Japan at Wembley later this month, with Tuchel confirming that player workload will be carefully managed during the camp due to heavy club commitments.
Tuchel added that several players had earned trust through previous international performances, suggesting rotation would be used strategically ahead of the global tournament.
Fresh concerns have emerged over compliance with a court order issued by the High Court of Kano State on April 8, 2026, restraining key parties—including the Honourable Minister of Education, the Kano State Ministry of Land and Physical Planning, the Kano State Urban Development Authority, and Pluck Global Company Limited—from further actions pending the determination of the matter before the court.
Findings indicate that while all parties—except the concessionaire, Pluck Global Company Limited—were duly served within two days of the order, significant challenges were encountered in effecting service on the company, raising troubling questions about its corporate traceability and regulatory vetting.
A review of the company’s records filed with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) revealed addresses that could not be verified as functional business locations. Notably, documentation submitted to Federal Government College (FGC), Kano, dated June 20, 2024, listed two addresses: 8B, Lalupon Street, off Keffi Street, off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, as its head office, and 3 Bargery Road, Bompai, Kano, as its branch office.
However, a physical visit to the Ikoyi address revealed that the entire property is occupied by a company identified as Golden Alchemy, whose staff категорically denied any knowledge of, or shared occupancy with, Pluck Global Company Limited.
Efforts to trace the Kano address yielded even more unsettling findings. The location—a locked duplex—showed no visible signs of commercial activity. Neighbours, while reluctant to speak on record, alluded to irregular movements at odd hours, casting further doubt on the legitimacy of the premises as a corporate office.
In a twist, after multiple attempts to establish contact, an individual purportedly representing the company surfaced in Kano and agreed to receive and acknowledge the court order on April 11, 2026, at approximately 6:00 pm. Curiously, the Ikoyi address—already discredited—was again listed as the company’s official address in the acknowledgment.
These developments raise critical questions regarding due diligence and Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols on the part of the Federal Ministry of Education. They also cast a spotlight on the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), should a concession agreement indeed have been executed with the company. Stakeholders say it would be instructive to review the addresses contained in all official correspondences and contractual documents linked to the transaction.
Meanwhile, a visit to the premises of Federal Government College, Kano, revealed ongoing construction activity, with workers observed excavating foundations. When approached, the workers declined to disclose the authority under which they were operating—despite the subsistence of a court order restraining further action.
Notably, a previously installed project billboard bearing the insignia of the school authorities and the Federal Ministry of Education had been removed. Sources within the institution suggest that the directive for its removal may have emanated from the Ministry following receipt of the court order.
The unfolding situation presents a complex mix of legal, regulatory, and accountability issues—raising the spectre of possible non-compliance with judicial directives, as well as deeper concerns about transparency in public-private concession arrangements.
Trending News5 years ago
Others4 years ago
Humanity4 years ago
Others7 years ago
Business2 years ago
Business2 years ago