Gary Lineker slams Southgate for not using Liverpool ace Trent Alexander-Arnold against Slovakia.
Former Manchester United skipper Gary Neville has singled out England manager Gareth Southgate for snubbing Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold against Slovakia on Sunday evening.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was not involved at all for the first time at the 2024 European Championships as England edged past Slovakia 2-1 in extra time in a last-16 fixture. The result saw the Three Lions book their spot in the quarter-finals where they will face Switzerland, but it was a lucky escape for Gareth Southgate’s side.
After starting England’s first two games in midfield and receiving unfair criticism from certain sections of the Three Lions’ fans and media, Alexander-Arnold has barely seen game time come his way in the last two games. Things have barely improved since the 25-year-old dropped to the bench, and despite full-backs Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier struggling to make inroads against Slovakia, Southgate opted against bringing on the Liverpool vice-captain.
England fell behind to Ivan Schranz’s opener in the 25th minute, and with England struggling to unlock a well-drilled Slovakia backline, Gary Neville was baffled by Southgate’s decision to not bring on Alexander-Arnold at the break. Speaking on ITV (h/t The Daily Mirror), he said:
“Trent Alexander-Arnold, it is illegal that the lad is not playing football in any game like this for England today. We cannot have Kyle Walker and Trippier at left and right-back when we’re on the ball most of the time.”
“That is the kid who is the best football player we have ever seen at right-back, or full-back, in this country. He has got to be on the pitch.”
While Southgate’s decision to stick with Walker eventually paid rich dividends, with the Manchester City star playing a big part in England’s last-gasp equaliser by launching a long throw into the box, which was flicked on by Marc Guehi and expertly bicycled kicked by Jude Bellingham, there are no excuses for not bringing on Alexander-Arnold off the bench during the entire game.
In a flawed structure that has restricted England from playing an attractive brand of football with all the talents they’ve got, the Liverpool full-back became a scapegoat after starting both of their opening two games in a midfield role. Southgate decided to drop him from the last two games but it is indeed baffling to see Alexander-Arnold not see the pitch at all in a game against Slovakia that was crying out for creativity, movement and pin-point delivery.
The England international, who has won every trophy with Liverpool at just 25, is the best full-back in the country by a country mile. So, to see him first being mismanaged and later not used at all is a cardinal sin from Southgate. We will see whether the England manager listens to Neville’s plea and hands the Liverpool star a start against Switzerland in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
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