Gareth Southgate handed Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold a rare start as England beat Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Liverpool right-back started in midfield and then switched back to his normal role late in the second half and doubled England’s lead during their 3-0 friendly win at St James’ Park.
For several years now, Trent Alexander-Arnold has been one of the best fullbacks in Europe and his trophies have shown for it.
But the 25-year-old hasn’t been able to replicate that on the international stage because his attacking style doesn’t suit Southgate’s defensive system.
Not only that, England have a plethora of right-backs to choose from. Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier and even Chelsea’s Reece James, who has been axed by Southgate ahead of Euro 2024.
But Alexander-Arnold’s display in the middle of the park for his country and impressive second-half performance didn’t seem to impress Steve Nicol, as he told ESPN.
For large parts of the match, the game was goalless, before Cole Palmer opened the scoring from the penalty spot and then Alexander-Arnold doubled his side’s lead with a brilliant first-time finish after Jack Grealish dinked the ball to the far post.
But Nicol made it clear that, even if the Liverpool man scored a hat-trick, it’s still not going to make any difference in his chances of starting for England against Serbia at Euro 2024.
That will be England’s opening game, with Nicol stating in a typically brutal and forthright fashion that Alexander-Arnold won’t start in midfield or at right-back.
Trent Alexander-Arnold scores for England against Bosnia and Herzegovina
“He’s not (going to be important for England at the Euros),” responded Nicol after Alexander-Arnold played in midfield against Bosnia. “He’s not going to be playing.
“Trent Alexander-Arnold could have scored a hat-trick today and he will not start against Serbia. There is no way in a million years that he will start as the right-back against Serbia. Not a chance. And there is no way he starts in the midfield. If Gareth Southgate is going to be positive, then it’s going to be Bellingham, Rice and Foden. If he is going to be a little negative, then he will probably bring Conor Gallagher in and play him beside Rice, with Bellingham in front of them and Foden will go out to the left.
“There is no way I can see on that field that Trent Alexander-Arnold starts – if it comes to the third game and England have to win to qualify, then he might play in midfield, but then what if he takes Maddison? Are you then going to play a supposed fullback and leave a guy who is 100% an attacking midfielder and had a fantastic first half of the season for Tottenham? Or are you just going to say, ‘Oh, I will play a fullback in there’? Trent Alexander-Arnold is a great passer of the ball. He played some great balls forward, but he certainly isn’t playing against Serbia.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold at Euro 2024
It needs to be remembered that Alexander-Arnold missed the last Euros through injury, so he will be desperate to be on that plane to Germany.
You suspect that Southgate will pick him because you just never know.
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Yes, there are many players in front of him and that won’t change. But fans are hoping that he is used more because his passing ability is just outrageous.
Even as an attacking weapon if England are chasing the game in the second half. You know the likes of Harry Kane would love to have Alexander-Arnold on their side because of his ability to ping balls for fun.
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