Trent Alexander-Arnold could finally get the recognition he deserves for England, with Gareth Southgate’s likely Euro XI now being widely reported.
In the run-up to the Euros, Alexander-Arnold has attracted plenty of praise from the English media – a departure from the norm.
Operating heavily in Southgate’s midfield, the 25-year-old scored in the 3-0 warm-up win over Bosnia and Herzegovina and was due to provide an assist in the 1-0 defeat by Iceland.
That prompted the England manager to consider starting Alexander-Arnold in the middle of the park for the Group C opener against Serbia on Sunday night.
According to numerous national journalists, including The Times‘ Paul Joyce and Telegraph‘s Matt Law, Liverpool’s number 66 is tipped for a first-choice role in Germany.
Law reports that Alexander-Arnold is in “pole position” to partner Declan Rice in a two-man midfield, with Joyce adding that Southgate is “seriously considering” that set-up.
Conor Gallagher, Adam Wharton and Kobbie Mainoo are England’s other options, along with Jude Bellingham, but MailSami Mokbel explains that the latter is “intended for an advanced role”.
England’s expected starting line-up against Serbia will feature a back four of Kyle Walker, John Stones, Mark Gehi and Kieran Trippier in front of Jordan Pickford.
Alexander-Arnold and Rice will provide stability behind the attacking quartet of Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden and Harry Kane.
England likely XI: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier; Alexander-Arnold, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Foden; Kane
That would leave Liverpool’s only other representative, Joe Gomez, among the substitutes, pushing for a place at left-back.
Southgate has already dropped Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah from his provisional squad, although the young centre-back has been kept on the reserve list.
England meet Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia in their group at the Euros and are considered joint favorites to win the tournament among the bookmakers.
France is the second nation with odds as high as 4/1.
Southgate admitted in an interview with a German publication BUILD that if England fail, he is likely to leave his role as manager.
“If we don’t win, I probably won’t be here anymore. Then it could be the last chance,” he said.
“I think half of the national coaches leave after the tournament – that’s the nature of international football.
“I’ve been here for almost eight years and we’ve gotten closer. So I know you can’t stand in front of the public all the time and say ‘please do a little more’ because at some point people will lose faith in your message.
“If we want to be a big team, and I want to be a top coach, then you have to deliver results in big moments.”
