Trent Alexander-Arnold gave a effectively 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 as soon as extra uncared for by the England supervisor for his starting XI, no matter altering his system to a once more three.
Alexander-Arnold watched on from the bench as Switzerland took the lead throughout the quarter-final tie, only 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 selection each, calling on him throughout the 100 and fifteenth minute.
Whatever the pressure on his shoulders and understanding he could very effectively be, as soon as extra, made out to be the scapegoat, Alexander-Arnold went on to rework England’s fifth and shutting penalty.
Cool, calm and picked up, the 25-year-old unleashed a assured strike to the left aspect of the aim to ship his group to the Euro semi-finals with a 5-3 win on penalties.
You wouldn’t help nevertheless be happy with him as he wheeled away in celebration after lastly getting his second throughout the spotlight for all the most effective causes.
“When the gaffer tells me I’m taking one, my abdomen doesn’t drop,” he said 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 truly considering he’s a participant who has obtained the lot at membership diploma – Southgate would do correctly to take into account that!
It nonetheless baffles the ideas how the England boss opted for Kieran Trippier over the No. 66 at wing-back, nevertheless his loss will most likely be Liverpool’s purchase in the long term.
That isn’t to say the 25-year-old doesn’t have his supporters, though, and Gary Lineker is taken into account one in every of them.
On BBC’s safety after the profitable penalty, Lineker said: “I can’t inform you the way completely happy I’m for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
“He’s had a barely strong journey proper right here, there’s little query about that. Put in midfield in that experiment that didn’t work out on account 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 game after being on the pitch for six minutes, the person’s a technician he’s an beautiful footballer.”
Hear, hear!
England will face each the Netherlands or Turkiye throughout the semi-finals on Wednesday, and the involvement of Alexander-Arnold will proceed to be debated between every so often.
