Speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football Podcast, Sam Allardyce has been discussing England’s right-back situation and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Yet again, the main conversation around this England team is the right-back spot ahead of the game against France on Saturday.
Of course, whoever plays on the right side of the defence this weekend will have to face off against Kylian Mbappe, and therefore, there have been calls for Kyle Walker to start due to his defensive prowess.
However, according to Allardyce, Engalnd’s best right-back option may be Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, with the ex-Bolton boss claiming that the full-back is the best attacking right-back in the world.
Allardyce hails Alexander-Arnold
The experienced gaffer spoke about the Liverpool full-back.
“They don’t get coached to defend now full-backs, the best defensive full-back in the country, Wan-Bissaka, doesn’t play for Man United,” Allardyce said.
“The full-back now has to be up the pitch and there is no better than Trent Alexander-Arnold, he could play midfield no problem whatsoever, but he’s had a tough spell and you ask what your confidence is like then.”
Unleash him
Alexander-Arnold hasn’t had much of a part to play at the World Cup so far, but against France it may be time to unleash him.
Let’s face it, even the great Kyle Walker may not have enough about him to stop Mbappe – he struggled to deal with Ismaila Sarr on Sunday, so why don’t England use one of their own greatest attacking weapons against France?
As the old saying goes, the best form of defence can be attack, and that’s precisely what Alexander-Arnold can bring to this England team.
If Gareth Southgate truly wants to be positive against France, then he can show that intent by starting Alexander-Arnold.
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