Real Madrid defender fails to impress national team coach in crucial World Cup audition

Real Madrid defender fails to impress national team coach in crucial World Cup audition

For Trent Alexander-Arnold, the Bayern Munich match was supposed to be an opportunity, a chance to shift the story and remind everyone why he still belongs at the highest level.

Instead, it turned into another performance that raises more questions than answers.

The Real Madrid defender is going through a difficult spell, and recent developments at the international level have only added to the pressure.

Being left out of Thomas Tuchel’s latest England squad during the final international break before the FIFA World Cup felt like a major setback, almost a closed door.

Yet, Tuchel himself has kept that door slightly open.

What’s the story?

According to The Athletic, the England manager has said that he still wanted to take a closer look before making a final decision, even stating he would watch Alexander-Arnold to form his “last impressions.”

That is exactly why Tuchel was present at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium for the Champions League quarter-final clash against Bayern Munich.

But if this was meant to be an audition, it did not quite go to plan.

Luis Diaz got the better of Trent Alexander-Arnold. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

As such, there were moments that showed his quality. Early in the first half, Alexander-Arnold produced an excellent piece of one-on-one defending against Luis Diaz, a challenge that likely prevented a clear chance.

It was the kind of intervention that often goes unnoticed, but at this level, consistency matters more than flashes because when the two faced off again, the story changed.

Called into question

Diaz got the better of him, and that moment ultimately contributed to the goal that put Real Madrid on the back foot.

It was not an isolated concern either, as shortly before that, Alexander-Arnold had already given the ball away in a dangerous area, an error that Bayern failed to punish.

To his credit, he still made an impact going forward, as his assist for Kylian Mbappe’s goal showed exactly why he remains such a unique profile.

But once again, the same debate resurfaced – does his attacking brilliance compensate for his defensive inconsistency?

Lastly, it must be remembered that one of the problems Tuchel had with Alexander-Arnold’s playing style was his defensive lapses, which is why Ben White was selected ahead of him in the first place.

And if yesterday’s performance is anything to go by, the Real Madrid defender may not have provided the reassurance Tuchel was looking for.