Gary Lineker believes Trent Alexander-Arnold has been ‘hung out to dry’ by Gareth Southgate ahead of England’s final Euro 2024 group game against Slovenia on Tuesday evening.
England have already qualified for the Euro 2024 knockout stage following their win against Serbia and their draw with Denmark and a victory over Slovenia would guarantee top spot in Group C for the Three Lions.
However, Southgate’s side have faced criticism over their performances in the tournament so far and doubts have been raised over how England will fare against the tougher teams in the competition.
Alexander-Arnold’s position in England’s midfield has come under scrutiny after he was taken off after in the 54th minute in the 1-1 draw with Denmark last Thursday, and the Liverpool right-back is now expected to be replaced by Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher in the starting line-up for the game against Slovenia, which kicks off at 8pm on Tuesday.
And Lineker feels Southgate’s decision to brand Alexander-Arnold’s position in England’s midfield an ‘experiment’ at Euro 2024 has not helped the situation.
‘I do feel a bit for Trent Alexander-Arnold,’ Lineker said on the BBC’s Euros Extra show on Monday.
‘I feel like he’s been hung out to dry a little bit. His manager has said he’s an experiment and now it looks like an experiment that doesn’t work.
‘It’s very hard to play in a new position even when a team’s playing well.
‘But when a team’s struggling and a team’s disjointed and not together and not getting up the pitch it becomes very difficult.
‘I do feel for him because he’s an unbelievably talented player.’
WHO ENGLAND COULD PLAY IN THE LAST-16?
As Group C winners: Netherlands, Austria, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belgium, Georgia or Czech Republic
As Group C runners-up: Germany
As one of the best third-placed teams: Portugal
Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney reiterated that he would not have started Alexander-Arnold in midfield for England’s Euro 2024 campaign insists Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton, who is yet to make an appearance at the tournament, would be better options.
‘Yeah, I’ve been quite critical of Trent,’ Rooney said.
‘I love Trent as a player as a full-back or as a right-back coming in at the right time but I think to play him in the middle of the pitch in international football, it’s so different to playing as a full-back.
‘I’ve said it many times, I wouldn’t have played him there. But he’s [Southgate] got [Kobbie] Mainoo, he’s got [Adam] Wharton.
‘For me, I play Jude [Bellingham] in the middle next to [Declan] Rice and you get your width with [Anthony] Gordon and [Phil] Foden.’