JUDE FOR THOUGHT Gareth: Trent’s behind Trippier
GARETH SOUTHGATE has insisted Kieran Trippier is “ahead of” Trent Alexander-Arnold in the battle for a World Cup place.
Southgate revealed he held heart-to-heart talks with the Liverpool defender after he did not even make the bench for the Nations League clash with Germany.
England boss Southgate justified his decision by claiming that he needed cover among the substitutes, could only pick 23 players and Trippier was a better option than Alexander-Arnold.
Creative
two matches so the way we manage a group of people has been a big strength for us in the tournaments and we need to do that.
“The other night, we didn’t need the left-back cover, against Germany we did because of the way we went with the team so we needed Chilly (Ben
Chilwell) on the bench and we had Kieran who, at the moment, I feel his all-round game is ahead (of Trent).
“I’ve had long conversations with all of them, been very clear with them about where they stand, what they need to improve upon, what they’re doing well so they’re very clear on where they sit.”
England along with all the other nations must give a provisional list of 55 names to FIFA by October 19 to allow all players to be called up. Southgate is then set to name his squad on Thursday, November 10.
Nations
FIFA will allow nations to pick up to 26 players and, unlike
UEFA, name them all on the bench which removes the annoyance felt by players when they get cut from the match day squad.
However, Southgate insists that 26 is “too many” for squad harmony but made it pretty clear he will take his full allocation.
Southgate added: “That’s a good question because I don’t think it’s an ideal number.
“I think it’s too many but I think every coach will feel that if you got problems with Covid and you took fewer then you know what would happen… so realistically, it will be (full 26).” (above)