Gareth Southgate is set to adjust England’s midfield for the final Euro 2024 group game against Slovenia, with Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher replacing Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The Three Lions will secure their spot as Group C winners if they beat Slovenia in Cologne on Tuesday night.
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England’s Euro 2024 campaign began with a tense 1-0 victory over Serbia, followed by a 1-1 draw against Denmark.
Liverpool right-back Alexander-Arnold started in midfield alongside Declan Rice in both matches, but his performances have sparked mixed reactions.
He was substituted at halftime in both games, and The Athletic reports that Gallagher is set to start against Slovenia.
Gallagher impressed for Chelsea last season, playing in all but one Premier League game and captaining the team in the absence of the injured Reece James.
Despite his key role for the Blues, Gallagher has been linked with potential moves to Tottenham and Aston Villa.
Alexander-Arnold, one of England’s most creative players against Serbia and Denmark, faced criticism from Manchester United legend Roy Keane, who claimed he was “found out.”
Pundits like Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, and Rio Ferdinand have declared the Alexander-Arnold midfield experiment a failure, urging Southgate to revise his midfield as he aims to end England’s 58-year wait for a major trophy.
However, Declan Rice passionately defended the 25-year-old following the draw with Denmark.
‘It’s funny because people were calling for Trent to play in midfield,’ he told ITV. ‘Half the country are calling for Trent to play in midfield, and then you play him in midfield, and then you want to bring him down.
‘I don’t get it, I don’t get it at all. I’ll defend all of my boys until the day I never pull on an England shirt. Trent is one of the best players I’ve ever seen.
‘Don’t call for someone to play in a position and then backtrack all because you think he’s had a bad game or something.
‘I’ll tell you now: Trent can play in midfield. I’ve seen it at England, I’ve seen it for Liverpool, he’s unbelievable. That’s what I say to the people who say that type of stuff.’
Speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football, podcast, Sam Allardyce said: ‘I don’t think Conor Gallagher is the answer. He’s not at this level.
‘Conor’s still a young guy learning his trade. His work rate, closing down and winning the ball is very good, but his passing is not good enough to warrant a place.
‘If Gareth Southgate is still stuck on playing two in midfield then he needs to put Jude Bellingham in there because he can play both roles.
‘He can still arrive late and go forward, that’s the position where he started out. Sadly, he didn’t have his best game against Denmark either.
‘I think Gareth will change the midfield for the next game. It doesn’t look like he’ll change the system so it’s just about which two he’ll go with.’
