Ian Wright believes one stat shows that England must drop Newcastle United defender Kieran Trippier from their lineup.
The Three Lions are sending their fans to sleep – and those that are still awake and watching are demanding change.
All optimism around winning the Euros has been drained after three uninspiring performances in the group stage, the latest being the goalless draw against Slovenia on Tuesday evening.
Gareth Southgate is under pressure to make things click for England and the stakes are now at an all-time high as they enter the knockout stages.
One point of discussion has been at left-back, where England have been left short due to Luke Shaw‘s ongoing hamstring issues.
Newcastle United‘s Kieran Trippier has filled the void left by Shaw during the three group stages but former England striker Ian Wright has called for a change.
Ian Wright on Kieran Trippier at Euro 2024
Speaking after the full-time whistle, Wright campaigned for Chelsea’s Cole Palmer to start for England with Bukayo Saka replacing Trippier at left-back.
Wright is not alone in his complaints with fellow pundit Micah Richards also stating that Trippier is ‘becoming a problem’.
“Anytime he [Palmer] gets on the ball he’s looking to put the ball forward and progress it. He wants to get forward and create something.
“I saw a stat about Kieran Trippier being our second most productive player in terms of touches and passes.
“How are we going to get Palmer into the team if that is the case? With how naturally left-sided Saka is, maybe can you put Saka at left-back and put Palmer on the right. Simply because we need to get some balance and fluidity into the game.”
England have problems bigger than Kieran Trippier
It is alarming that Trippier is statistically one of England’s most creative players while playing in an unnatural left-back role – but at a time when the side is crying out for more creativity that strengthens the argument that he should stay.
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There is no guarantee that England’s creativity will start flowing with Saka at left-back – if anything it adds to the issues by shoehorning another star into an unnatural position.
England’s biggest issues lie further up the pitch and particularly in front of Trippier.
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