Trent is back
Trent Alexander-Arnold is officially back in the mix, and it's giving main character energy. After being sidelined from the World Cup squad, the Real Madrid defender finally made his first England appearance since June 2025. He absolutely ate during England’s 2-0 Nations League victory over Czechia on Tuesday.
The game flow
It was a massive W for Thomas Tuchel’s side following their rough loss to Spain. The game turned early in the second half when Czechia’s Pavel Sulc caught a red card, and Trent took full advantage. He dropped into a deeper position, which Tuchel noted was the move, and delivered a clutch cross that set up Anthony Gordon for the opening goal.
"We never doubted that he can produce these kind of assists," Tuchel said, shouting out Trent’s secure ball control and decisive play.
Bellingham’s leadership
Jude Bellingham started on the bench for this one, but he still grabbed the captain’s armband after subbing in for Harry Kane late in the game. Tuchel confirmed that captaining the squad is a total honor and that Bellingham is in a great headspace, even if the team is easing him back into the rotation to manage his fitness for the season.
Why it matters
This win puts England in a solid spot in Group A3, currently sitting second behind Spain. With the team now looking ahead to a Saturday showdown against Croatia, the squad is catching some serious momentum. Tuchel is also holding out hope that Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly will be back in the lineup soon to help keep the energy high.
