Thomas Tuchel Panggil Trevoh Chalobah Masuk Skuad Timnas Inggris

Manajer tim nasional Inggris Thomas Tuchel resmi memanggil bek Chelsea Trevoh Chalobah untuk masuk ke dalam skuad Piala Dunia 2026 guna menggantikan Tino Livramento yang mengalami cedera betis saat sesi latihan menjelang laga pembuka Grup L melawan Kroasia di Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas.

Dilansir dari Sky Sports, Tino Livramento dipastikan absen dari keseluruhan turnamen setelah hasil pemeriksaan menunjukkan bek Newcastle United berusia 23 tahun tersebut membutuhkan waktu pemulihan selama empat hingga lima minggu.

Keputusan pembatalan keikutsertaan Livramento diambil dengan cepat oleh staf FA karena tenggat waktu pergantian pemain yang ditetapkan FIFA, yaitu 24 jam sebelum pertandingan pertama, sudah sangat dekat.

"Tino was of course very disappointed and sad. All of us were. It was a bit of a shock when he had to stop training and he had a feeling that this could be an injury that could cost him the tournament. He was unfortunately right after assessment." kata Thomas Tuchel, Manajer Timnas Inggris.

Tuchel menjelaskan bahwa durasi pemulihan yang lama menjadi alasan utama tim medis mengirim bek sayap kanan tersebut kembali ke klubnya untuk menjalani rehabilitasi.

"We got the information that it's about four or five weeks, which is unfortunately too long to keep on rebuilding and reintegrating him into the squad. We took the decision to send him home, which is disappointing." kata Thomas Tuchel, Manajer Timnas Inggris.

Kehadiran Chalobah sebagai bek tengah dipilih Tuchel agar pemain bertahan lain seperti Jarell Quansah dan Djed Spence dapat dioptimalkan di posisi bek sayap kiri maupun kanan.

"We called Trevoh Chalobah, because we can free up Jarell Quansah as a full-back on both sides. Djed Spence can play as a full-back on both sides. Trevoh comes as a centre-back alternative, which gives us full coverage in the back four." kata Thomas Tuchel, Manajer Timnas Inggris.

Sebelumnya, pelatih asal Jerman tersebut sempat menegaskan bahwa pencoretan beberapa nama besar dari skuad utama murni merupakan keputusan taktis dan olahraga demi keharmonisan tim.

"We had a call. I tried to explain the situation but Trent just has to accept it. I know that it creates noise when you leave a player like Trent out.

It's a sportive choice and a difficult choice. Maybe it's unfair to a certain degree but these choices have to be made." kata Thomas Tuchel, Manajer Timnas Inggris.

Keputusan Tuchel untuk tidak memanggil Trent Alexander-Arnold sebagai pengganti memicu berbagai spekulasi, termasuk dari mantan bek timnas Inggris Harry Maguire yang menilai langkah tersebut diambil demi menjaga ketenangan ruang ganti dari sorotan media.

"When someone drops out like that, I do believe (with) the squad, you want to call up somebody with a minimum of fuss, no real media attention or disruption to the camp." kata Harry Maguire, Bek Manchester United.

Maguire menambahkan bahwa kehadiran pemain dengan profil bintang yang tinggi di tengah turnamen justru berpotensi mengalihkan fokus tim dari pertandingan penting.

"So I do believe when someone did get injured, I don't think Trent would've ever been called up because the questions and everything will be about him, if it's a big game, it's about Croatia." kata Harry Maguire, Bek Manchester United.

Ia juga merefleksikan situasi serupa yang mungkin terjadi pada dirinya sendiri atau Luke Shaw jika dipanggil mendadak ke dalam kamp pelatihan.

"If he called me up, it (the questions) would be about me, Luke Shaw the same, we've been to tournaments and play for big clubs, that's what you want when you bring someone up on standby. Congratulations to Trevoh, I hope he has an impact on the squad." kata Harry Maguire, Bek Manchester United.

Sementara itu, legenda Liverpool Jamie Carragher turut memberikan pandangannya melalui Football365 mengenai kecenderungan strategi pemilihan pemain bertahan yang diterapkan oleh mantan pelatih Bayern Munich tersebut.

"We know Thomas Tuchel’s stance now regarding Trent. When you look at some of the players in the squad, it almost looks like he’s picking center-backs who can do a job at right-back rather than an out and out right-back." kata Jamie Carragher, Mantan Pemain Liverpool.

Carragher menilai karakteristik permainan Alexander-Arnold kurang cocok dengan sistem taktis yang ingin dibangun oleh Tuchel untuk tim nasional Inggris di turnamen ini.

"The way he wants to set his team up – maybe Trent’s strengths don’t get amplified as much in a Tuchel team as much as maybe a Jurgen Klopp team or at Real Madrid." kata Jamie Carragher, Mantan Pemain Liverpool.

Mantan kapten Liverpool tersebut menyimpulkan bahwa sang manajer lebih memprioritaskan kekompakan dan kerja sama tim dibandingkan sekadar mengandalkan talenta individu.

"I wouldn’t say I’m overly surprised that he hasn’t gone for Trent. I said a few weeks ago on this show that he’s picking team harmony, togetherness and spirit over quality and talent, and I think this is another decision that proves that." kata Jamie Carragher, Mantan Pemain Liverpool.