Gareth Southgate Reveals The Midfield Dilemma Following Trent Alexander-Arnold's Statement.

Gareth Southgate Reveals The Midfield Dilemma Following Trent Alexander-Arnold's Statement.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is now relishing his time in the England squad after a challenging start to his international career. At 25, he has earned only 24 caps over six years, remaining somewhat of a mystery in the England setup. England manager Gareth Southgate explains that Alexander-Arnold faced stiff competition for the right-back position but now must determine his role for the upcoming Euros.
The Liverpool star played in midfield against Bosnia and Herzegovina, shifted to right-back, and scored an impressive goal, but didn't secure a permanent spot in either role. Southgate is now considering him for a deeper midfield role alongside Declan Rice, after previously trying him as a No. 8, requiring Alexander-Arnold to master yet another position.
Southgate stated, "Firstly, he is enjoying playing for England. His international career has been challenging due to the depth of talent in his position, limiting his playing time. But we've always sought ways to include him, and he appreciates that. It was great to see him score and play confidently for England.
"We're pleased with his progress in this role. He's eager to learn and has been since we discussed this position a year ago. The last half-hour showed another valuable option for us. We'll face different challenges in this tournament and need varied strategies to overcome them."
Southgate acknowledged that Alexander-Arnold's ability to perform in midfield during a tournament remains uncertain and that tougher tests lie ahead compared to warm-up friendlies.
He added, "That's the unknown. With players like Conor Gallagher, Kobbie Mainoo, and Adam Wharton, we know their strengths and weaknesses. None of them can do everything, so we seek the right balance.
"With Declan in the mix, the balance might vary for different games. We might face teams with a back five at times, and we have strong options to adapt both our starting lineup and in-match strategies."