Trent Alexander-Arnold gave a well timed reminder to Gareth Southgate of what he can do after displaying 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 additional 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 strain on his shoulders and understanding he might be, once more, made out to be the scapegoat, Alexander-Arnold went on to transform England’s fifth and closing penalty.
Cool, calm and picked up, the 25-year-old unleashed a assured strike to the left aspect of the purpose to ship his group to the Euro semi-finals with a 5-3 win on penalties.
You may not assist however be pleased with him as he wheeled away in celebration after lastly getting his second within the highlight for all the appropriate 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 gained the lot at membership stage – Southgate would do properly to do not forget 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 ultimately.
That’s not to say the 25-year-old doesn’t have his supporters, although, and Gary Lineker is certainly one 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 robust outing right here, there’s little doubt about that. Put in midfield in that experiment that didn’t work out as a result of the group 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 a beautiful 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 every now and then.
