England's Declan Rice recently shared his thoughts on partnering with Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold in the midfield during Sunday’s Euro 2024 match. The verdict comes amidst ongoing debates about the Liverpool star’s role in international matches.
Alexander-Arnold was chosen by manager Gareth Southgate to start in midfield during England’s opening group-stage game against Serbia. He played for 69 minutes before being replaced by Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher. Despite some flaws, the Liverpool academy graduate showcased his confidence as England dominated much of the first half of the game, leading to Jude Bellingham scoring a goal within just 13 minutes.
However, Serbia managed to gain a foothold and cause problems for England as they backed off. Alexander-Arnold was notably lucky when Aleksandar Mitrovic missed an opportunity after he lost possession dangerously.
Mixed reactions and future prospects
Post-match scrutiny has led to suggestions that Southgate should replace Alexander-Arnold with a more solid option like Gallagher. However, Rice expressed positivity about their performance as a trio alongside goalscorer Jude Bellingham.
Declan Rice, England midfielder, said:
“I don’t need to talk about how good he is, I think you see at Madrid every week and have seen it again tonight, the match winner. When I’m holding I have just got to let him flourish and do his thing, let him feel like he has the confidence of the pitch to go out and do whatever he wants.
“The more we play together I feel like the connection and bond we have together is really, really good and with Trent tonight, who I thought played really well, first time playing a CDM role. I thought it was a good trio.”
As England prepares for their second group stage game against Denmark on Thursday, it remains uncertain whether Southgate will continue with Alexander-Arnold who is known for his quality possession skills. Gallagher could be considered from the start given his defensive effectiveness against physical teams like Denmark.
England struggled overall against Serbia
Opinions were divided regarding Alexander-Arnold's performance; some believe that his passing range outweighs out-of-possession risks while others call for safer options further into the tournament. But it wasn't just him who struggled; other stars also had difficult moments during a night where Southgate’s men found it hard to get going.
The Three Lions fell into a pattern of sitting off after a strong start, with their much-discussed attacking talent going quiet. Phil Foden struggled to make an impact from the left-wing, and Harry Kane spent most of the night on the periphery. Southgate is expected to be questioned about his plans for the Denmark game, including decisions regarding central midfield before Thursday’s evening kick-off in Frankfurt.
The performance of England's midfield partnership between Declan Rice and Trent Alexander-Arnold has sparked debates among sports fans and betting enthusiasts alike. As England prepares for its next match against Denmark, it will be interesting to see how Southgate's strategies evolve based on these discussions and performances so far in Euro 2024.
