England’s right-back crisis puts Tuchel’s James Garner omission in sharper focus

England’s World Cup squad was built around two right-backs with significant injury histories. Now Tino Livramento has withdrawn before the tournament began, while Reece James is unlikely to return unless England reach its later rounds. That leaves Thomas Tuchel with a problem his original selections made entirely possible.

Trevoh Chalobah, a centre-back and one of Tuchel’s former Chelsea players, was called in after Livramento pulled out. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s absence has drawn much of the attention, and it’s easy to see why: despite a difficult first season at Real Madrid, he remains one of England’s most technically gifted footballers. Yet Tuchel has long appeared to consider him outside the picture, publicly questioning his defending.

The overlooked alternative

Here’s the thing: the more revealing omission may be Everton’s James Garner. England’s injuries have created exactly the kind of right-back shortage that makes a versatile option valuable. The opening case for Garner is straightforward: Tuchel could use a player like him now, while the squad is turning to centre-backs to cover the position.

That doesn’t settle whether Alexander-Arnold should have gone to the World Cup. Tuchel’s doubts about his defensive work appear to have shaped that decision for some time. But the injuries to James and Livramento make the cost of leaving other options out harder to ignore.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was born in West Derby. The article is by Paul Wheelock, head of sport, and was published at 15:41 on 27 June 2026, updated at 16:04.

Related: Iliman Ndiaye goal keeps bold prediction alive as Everton collision course set · Jarrad Branthwaite diligence set to be rewarded as Everton poised for huge injury boost (Joe Thomas, opinion)

Garner’s versatility looks more valuable with James out

England’s right-back problem has reopened a question Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad selection left hanging: why wasn’t James Garner included? The Birkenhead-born Everton midfielder made his England debut in March’s 1-1 friendly draw with Uruguay at Wembley. Tuchel called him “our mini Valverde,” comparing him with Uruguay captain Federico Valverde, Alexander-Arnold’s Real Madrid team-mate. Tuchel’s praise came with a caveat. He liked Garner’s confidence, physicality and ball-winning, but thought he could carry the ball through midfield more boldly. He also pointed to misplaced passes late in the first half that dented England’s confidence. Even so, Tuchel said he was impressed by Garner’s training, conduct and performance. Garner also featured in the 1-0 defeat by Japan. His form tailed off somewhat near the end of the Premier League season, but his omission from the final World Cup squad still raised eyebrows. There are more established midfielders ahead of him; few offer the same cover. Everton’s Player of the Season has shown he can play right-back and can also fill in on the left. That flexibility matters now. Reece James is injured, Livramento is sidelined, and first-choice central midfielders Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson have minor problems. Tuchel said he called up Chalobah partly to free Jarell Quansah to cover at right-back, pointing to Quansah’s performances there for Liverpool and his experience in a back three at Leverkusen. Djed Spence is another option, while Ezri Konsa has played right-back for England “on a high level.” Tuchel said the team would find solutions without James. The choices are workable, but Garner’s absence is harder to shrug off when injuries have made versatility so useful. Tuchel’s plans include shifting Spence from left-back or using Quansah, with John Stones also among the centre-backs who could be considered. Whether Garner would have made a meaningful difference is uncertain. Still, given James’ recurring injury problems, and the continuing debate over Alexander-Arnold, his name belongs in the conversation too. Get the latest World Cup news straight to your inbox by signing up to our Make Football Great Again newsletter now!