From Times Square to England squad: Trevoh Chalobah realises World Cup dream

T revoh Chalobah has always thought he would be part of an England World Cup squad. In July 2018, the Chelsea centre-half even put it on the record. “One day … believe,” he posted on social media, alongside a picture of the World Cup trophy. He was 19 and had just joined Ipswich in the Championship on a season’s loan. The message has aged exceptionally well. Despite his faith, Chalobah did not think it would be this summer. The chance had surely gone when Thomas Tuchel did not name him in his squad for the tournament in North America. He was close after a fine season at Chelsea, when he made a career-high 47 club appearances, but not close enough. Everything changed last Monday and if there is an arresting quality to the story, it is because it takes in so much emotion while also offering a peek into the glamorous lifestyle of a footballer. The heartbreak belonged to Tino Livramento, who was forced to withdraw from Tuchel’s squad after sustaining a calf injury in training last Sunday. Chalobah was on holiday with a friend in New York. He had been in Monaco the previous weekend for the Formula OneGrand Prix before popping along the Côte d’Azur to Cannes, then heading to the Big Apple on the Saturday. The plan after that was to go to Los Angeles. The funny thing was Chalobah did not see the message from Tuchel straight away. “I was in Times Square,” he says. “I’d gone to the shops. It was when I got back to my hotel I saw Thomas had texted but it was two hours before. …