In Monday’s Euro 2024 warm-up friendly, England defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-0, with a goal from Trent Alexander-Arnold capping off an outstanding individual performance.There was a flurry of activity at St. James’ Park in anticipation of this summer’s trophy run as players battled for spots on the plane and starting roles against Serbia.
Cole Palmer scored from the penalty spot, Alexander-Arnold had a great effort, and Harry Kane scored in stoppage time on a night that gives manager Gareth Southgate a lot to think about before Friday’s final squad submission.
Palmer made his international debut following a foul in the box, while both Eberechi Eze and Ezri Konsa had good games in their first debuts for England. Palmer scored the game-winning goal after Konsa was fouled.
After impressing in his most recent midfield audition, Alexander-Arnold returned to his familiar right back position and scored a spectacular late volley, which substitute Kane assisted.
It was a solid conclusion to a first game with Bosnia that was otherwise very uneventful, and now Southgate will select his final squad for Friday’s goodbye friendly against Iceland.
Thanks to England’s Trent Alexander-Arnold’s strike, Arne Slot has a solution to his problem with Liverpool
Tonight was supposed to be Trent Alexander-Arnold’s chance to impress Arne Slot, the new manager of Liverpool. Rather than that, he gave England manager Gareth Southgate something to consider.
The midfield slot will be reserved for Alexander-Arnold, according to Southgate. The provisional Euros team announcement included him, and he started the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina while wearing the number eight shirt.
Amidst a continuing discussion, that occurs. After spending the last 18 months as manager experimenting with Alexander-Arnold’s role, Slot must now decide whether to replicate Jurgen Klopp’s strategy of using him mostly as a full-back for Liverpool.Reаsоn being, аlexаnder-аrnоld hаd аlreаdy been substituted bаck intо defense when he scоred the gаme-winning gоаl. It wаs fаir tо sаy thаt his middle-оf-the-gаme effоrts were cоmpetent but аverаge; this wаs а generаlizаtiоn thаt аpplied tо mоst оf the gаme.
Alexander-Arnold showed great skill to direct a beautiful volley from the right side of the box back across goal and into the corner. He would have been more effective playing at fullback with that kind of impact.
Using the Liverpool man at right back has always been something Southgate has been quite hesitant to do. Despite his undeniable dominance in that position for the Reds, he faced stiff competition from players like Kieran Trippier, Reece James, and Kyle Walker for international opportunities, which was unexpectedly restricted.
Southgate may be asking whether Alexander-Arnold wouldn’t be better off playing his natural position going into the tournament, especially considering Adam Wharton’s impressive performance in midfield after coming on as a substitute. However, Slot is shown a way out of his predicament by the goal.
The fact that Alexander-Arnold’s position has never been the main question is highlighted by this. The only thing that should be considered is how to place him so that he may have the most impact on games.
That was definitely in the new hybrid role around the end of 2022–23. It seemed to breathe fresh life into Alexander-Arnold, reviving a season that had been stagnant on both an individual and team level.
However, it is arguable if Alexander-Arnold’s abilities were fully utilized during the previous campaign. He had brief flashes of brilliance in a “quarter-back” role until injuries derailed his season, and his statistics were light years away from when he set a new mark most defensive assists in a single season.
Priority number one for Slot is figuring out how to make the most of Alexander-Arnold’s enormous abilities. The discussion over where he is most effective as a player is valid, but the new Liverpool manager may use him in any role that allows him to show his talents. He possesses the makings of a legendary player.