England manager Gareth Southgate is set to make a change to his midfield for Tuesday’s final group match at Euro 2024 by bringing in Conor Gallagher for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Southgate’s side are top of Group C with four points from their opening two matches and will aim to finish top when they face Slovenia in Cologne.
Normally deployed at right-back for Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold was used in an unfamiliar role alongside Declan Rice against Serbia and Denmark – an idea which has divided opinion.
The 25-year-old was sent off after 54 minutes of the match against Denmark, but his three chances created and five assists in the final third were better than any other English player.
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Gallagher replaced Alexander-Arnold in both matches and the Chelsea academy graduate, 24, is now expected to be given a starting place.
Southgate made changes to his starting line-up in the third match of his previous three major tournaments, then also tweaked it for the round of 16 each time, suggesting his Slovenian selection is not necessarily a sign of things to come if England progresses further. .
Before the contest, Rice told ITV: “It’s funny because people were clamoring for Trent to play in midfield. Half the country is asking Trent to play midfield and then you play him in midfield and then you want to bring him down.
“I don’t understand, I don’t understand at all. I will defend all my boys until the day I never pull on an England jersey again. Trent is one of the best players I have ever seen. Don’t call someone to play a position and then backtrack because you think they had a bad game or something.
“I’ll tell you now: Trent can play in midfield. I saw him in England, I saw him in Liverpool, he’s incredible. That’s what I say to people who say things like that.
For Slovenia, star striker Benjamin Sesko is dealing with a thigh injury ahead of Tuesday’s match but is expected to start.
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(Top photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images, Lars Baron/Getty Images)
News Source : www.nytimes.com
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