The answer to England’s biggest Euro 2024 conundrum? Trent Alexander-Arnold
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If you didn't catch Trent Alexander-Arnold's display yesterday, imagine watching Marco van Basten blasting a high ball into the far corner from a tricky angle, visualize Hakim Ziyech curling a 60-yard pass to his teammate's toe, and picture Lionel Messi's unseen throughball slicing open the Netherlands defense. Alexander-Arnold managed to achieve all of these things in a single match.
Even if there was some exaggeration in the journalist's writing, and taking into account that he was playing against the determined but weak Bosnia and Herzegovina in a non-competitive match, this win seemed to be important.
The recent victory of England with a score of 3-0 didn't provide us with any new information. We already knew that Kieran Trippier is an acceptable left-back, and while Jarrod Bowen deserves to be on the team, it is uncertain if he will make it. Eberechi Eze is a player full of good energy and vibes. However, what was interesting about the match was the impact of Alexander-Arnold as a No 6 position. It presents a unique solution for Gareth Southgate, who has been puzzled about whom to play alongside Declan Rice behind Jude Bellingham, the preferred No 10 of England.
Positioned alongside Conor Gallagher while Rice took a break, Alexander-Arnold's on-field performance was akin to that of Andrea Pirlo, with his socks rolled down and a leisurely pace. He utilized every angle of his football boot to expertly distribute passes to even the farthest corners of the pitch. During most of the game, he stood, surveyed the field and used his kicking leg to launch the ball as far as possible instead of concentrating on running. His performance was to be evaluated in terms of yards advanced rather than distance covered.
A young footballer who has won both the Premier League and the Champions League at just 25 years old and previously excelled at Liverpool under one of the world's top managers is surprisingly lagging behind in international success. Despite his many accomplishments, he has only earned 24 caps with the national team, whereas younger players like Bellingham, Saka, and Foden have already received 29, 32, and 33 caps respectively. This is largely due to Southgate's doubts about Alexander-Arnold's defensive skills, and also because England has a plethora of talented right-backs.
International football poses a big challenge: putting together a team made up of players who don't naturally complement each other or whose selection seems questionable. Scotland once faced a problem where their two best players, Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney were both left-backs. The English team's quest for a quality left-footed player to balance their world-class midfield was a frustrating one, trying out players like Alan Thompson and Seth Johnson. The dominant Spanish team of 2008-2012 was strong in almost every position, but had to rely on Joan Capdevila, a hardworking and seemingly the only player of working age with a Spanish passport who could play left-back.
Typically, the answer is not to force your top 11 players into the game no matter what, trying to fit them into positions they are not suited for. The England team has learned this the hard way, through the tough years of Scholes, Gerrard and Lampard struggling to play together.
However, Alexander-Arnold doesn't appear to be a mere substitute in the No 6 position. He seems like a revelation. People have often debated where he should play in the long run, but not many have suggested he could excel in the holding role. They should, because from that position, he can see the game unfold in front of him like an empty canvas, allowing him to paint pictures that others may not be able to visualize.
He has the ability to position himself between the central defenders and lead the team from there. There's also the option for him to advance towards the goal while connecting the plays by supporting the attacks around the penalty area. This tactical change could work well for Alexander-Arnold's defensive style, as it will take him away from tussles near the post and turn him into a central midfielder. In the match against Bosnia, he successfully made a few smart interceptions by anticipating the moves.
If Alexander-Arnold hangs around in the defensive areas, it would allow Rice to move forward and search for opportunities. Recall England's first match in the previous European Championship, where Phillips made an energetic run and assisted Raheem Sterling in scoring the initial goal against Croatia while Rice stayed back. But now, Rice has evolved beyond just being a defensive player and can dribble and penetrate through lines just like Phillips did in that match. When Rice goes forward, he will require a teammate to remain behind to cover the back.
Alexander-Arnold possesses other qualities that England could benefit from during their match against Germany. His precise execution of set-pieces could be a game changer in a competition where every small advantage counts. Additionally, he exudes a sense of confidence and ease that permeates throughout the entire team. Having already succeeded at a high level with his club, Alexander-Arnold's experience brings a sense of poise when facing difficult situations.
There are additional choices to combine with Rice. One of them is Kobbie Mainoo, who is similar to a direct backup, as proven by his scoring goal in the FA Cup final where he ran from one box to the other. Gallagher is not a well-disciplined defender, but a player who is always moving and looks like he's trying to fill out a heat map. Curtis Jones is a bit more advanced, and Bellingham's expertise lies further up the field as well. Phillips and Jordan Henderson are no longer in the picture, while Adam Wharton may not be experienced enough for this tournament.
Talking about Alexander-Arnold, he was asked to play as a right-back during the final few minutes of the game. However, the position was far from the action, so he had to make some interesting moves to stay involved in the game. But he managed to do it, thanks to his unique skills. No other player in England has the same style of play.
