Trent Alexander-Arnold gave a well timed reminder to Gareth Southgate of what he can do after exhibiting his mettle by scoring England’s match-winning penalty.
Unsurprisingly, Liverpool’s vice-captain was once more neglected by the England supervisor for his beginning XI, regardless of altering his system to a again three.
Alexander-Arnold watched on from the bench as Switzerland took the lead within the quarter-final tie, just for Bukayo Saka to equalise to ship the match to further time.
Then, and solely then, did Southgate flip to Alexander-Arnold, and he didn’t rush to the choice both, calling on him within the one hundred and fifteenth minute.
Regardless of the stress on his shoulders and figuring out he could possibly be, once more, made out to be the scapegoat, Alexander-Arnold went on to transform England’s fifth and ultimate penalty.
Cool, calm and picked up, the 25-year-old unleashed a assured strike to the left facet of the purpose to ship his staff to the Euro semi-finals with a 5-3 win on penalties.
You can not assist however be pleased with him as he wheeled away in celebration after lastly getting his second within the highlight for all the fitting causes.
“When the gaffer tells me I’m taking one, my stomach doesn’t drop,” he mentioned in a post-match interview.
ENGLAND WIN THE PENALTY SHOOTOUT! ?#BBCEuros #Euro2024 #ENGSUI pic.twitter.com/06KdlOtLog
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 6, 2024
Unfazed and taking all of it in his stride, unsurprising actually contemplating he’s a participant who has received the lot at membership degree – Southgate would do properly to keep in mind that!
It nonetheless baffles the thoughts how the England boss opted for Kieran Trippier over the No. 66 at wing-back, however his loss will likely be Liverpool’s achieve in the long run.
That isn’t to say the 25-year-old doesn’t have his supporters, although, and Gary Lineker is one in every of them.
On BBC’s protection after the profitable penalty, Lineker mentioned: “I can’t let you know how happy I’m for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
“He’s had a barely powerful day trip right here, there’s little question about that. Put in midfield in that experiment that didn’t work out as a result of the staff weren’t cohesive.
“To step up, come on as a sub late on, to step up and have the penalty to win the sport after being on the pitch for six minutes, the man’s a technician he’s an exquisite footballer.”
Hear, hear!
England will face both the Netherlands or Turkiye within the semi-finals on Wednesday, and the involvement of Alexander-Arnold will proceed to be debated between at times.
