England's World Cup defensive depth is already crumbling before the tournament opener against Croatia
Thomas Tuchel’s England squad hasn’t even kicked a ball at the 2026 World Cup yet, and his defensive strategy is already under a microscope. Tino Livramento, the Newcastle full-back selected as part of Tuchel’s backline, was ruled out of the tournament on June 16 with a calf injury.
The timing could not be worse. England’s opening match against Croatia is imminent, and the injury has forced a scramble to patch together a defense that was already thin on options by design.
The Livramento problem Tuchel should have seen coming
Livramento’s 2025/26 season at Newcastle was peppered with fitness concerns, including thigh, hamstring, and knee issues that limited his availability throughout the campaign.
Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah received a late call-up as Livramento’s replacement. Chalobah now faces the challenge of integrating into a squad that has already gone through its pre-tournament bonding and tactical preparation.
The elephant in the room: Trent Alexander-Arnold
Trent Alexander-Arnold, widely regarded as one of the best attacking right-backs on the planet, is once again absent from the squad. Tuchel’s selection philosophy appears to prioritize squad cohesion and defensive reliability over individual brilliance, at the expense of high-profile attacking players such as Alexander-Arnold.
But if you’re going to prioritize defensive solidity, your defensive selections need to actually be solid. Losing Livramento before the tournament begins rather undermines the entire premise. You sacrificed Alexander-Arnold’s attacking creativity for defensive stability, and now you don’t have the defensive stability either.
What this means for England’s World Cup campaign
The Croatia opener now carries additional weight. Tuchel’s approach will face its first real test with Chalobah stepping in cold and a backline that has been disrupted before a ball has been kicked.
