June 25th 2024.
Former England footballer Gary Lineker has expressed his disappointment with manager Gareth Southgate's decision to experiment with Trent Alexander-Arnold in the team's midfield during the ongoing Euro 2024 tournament. Lineker believes that the Liverpool right-back has been put in a difficult position and is now facing criticism after being taken off in the previous match against Denmark.
Despite England's successful qualification for the knockout stage, there have been doubts surrounding the team's performance and their ability to compete against tougher opponents. Alexander-Arnold's place in the midfield has been particularly scrutinized, with reports suggesting that he will be replaced by Chelsea's Conor Gallagher in the upcoming match against Slovenia.
Lineker feels that Southgate's labeling of Alexander-Arnold's position as an "experiment" has not helped the situation. He expressed his sympathy for the young player and acknowledged the challenges of adapting to a new role, especially when the team is struggling as a whole.
The former footballer also discussed the potential opponents England could face in the last-16 round, depending on their performance in the final group game. As group winners, they could come up against Netherlands, Austria, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belgium, Georgia, or Czech Republic. If they finish as runners-up, they would face Germany. And as one of the best third-placed teams, they could potentially face Portugal.
Meanwhile, another former England player Wayne Rooney shared his thoughts on Alexander-Arnold's role in the team. He admitted to being critical of the decision to play him in midfield and believes that players like Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice would be better suited for the position. Rooney also mentioned the availability of other players like Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton, who are yet to make an appearance in the tournament.
Rooney suggested playing Bellingham in the middle with Rice, while utilizing the width of players like Anthony Gordon and Phil Foden on the wings. It remains to be seen how Southgate will approach the upcoming match and whether he will make any changes to the team's formation. But one thing is for sure, the performance of Alexander-Arnold in midfield has sparked a lot of debate and criticism within the football community.
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