Jamie Carragher says he ‘cannot fathom’ why Gareth Southgate picked Kieran Trippier ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold for England’s Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland.
Switching to a back three for the first time in three years provided Southgate the opportunity to pick Alexander-Arnold as a wing-back, following a couple of underwhelming performances from the Liverpool star in midfield.
But Southgate resisted the temptation to play the creative and technical 25-year-old against Switzerland, instead moving Newcastle United’s Trippier across from left-back to the right flank.
Trippier has attracted criticism for his performances at left-back and while he will be more at home on the right, Carragher still believes it was a mistake not to play Alexander-Arnold.
England’s only other change saw Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa come in for suspended Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi, with Bukayo Saka filling on at left-wing back and Phil Foden retaining his place despite a subdued tournament.
‘Kieran Tripper has done a decent job at left back but he’s picked him over Trent Alexander-Arnold [at right-wing back] which I just cannot fathom at all,’ Carragher told Sky Sports.
‘That’s not the Liverpool fan in me, for a long time I’ve always felt it was right that Kyle Walker played right-back for England, I thought that it was right that Gareth experimented with Trent in midfield because he’s got world class ability on the ball, but it didn’t quite work.
‘But the reason you play Trippier over Trent I just can’t get my head around. The only reason would be that Kieran’s played maybe a few more games, maybe he trusts him.
‘But when you think defensively, the whole point of playing three at the back is to release your wing backs and you’ve got Kyle Walker, the quickest player in the squad to mop up anything if you get caught out.
‘So, to not put Trent in that position I cannot believe that, I’ll be honest. I can only imagine where he’s head is at right now.
‘I think after this tournament Trent Alexander-Arnold has to be England’s starting right back, whether that’s in a back four or a back five. He’s too good of a player.
‘Trent has got world class ability, Kieran Trippier is just a very good player who, at times, has had a very difficult season for Newcastle.
‘He’s done okay for England but to play ahead of Trent, I just don’t see that. Trent has world-class ability so I do feel for Trent.’
England are bidding to reach a European Championship semi-final, three years since they were beaten finalists at Euro 2020.
But the Three Lions have underwhelmed in Germany and face a Switzerland side who knocked out defending champions Italy last time out.
Southgate gave Trippier a huge vote of confidence at his pre-match press conference, insisting he has done a ‘brilliant job’ for the team.
‘Kieran Trippier has been absolutely outstanding for us,’ he said. ‘Luke is available he’s available to start but Kieran has also done a brilliant job for the team.
‘He obviously doesn’t give us the balance that a natural left-footer gives you but his leadership, his communication, his talking – just ask the players he plays with – is phenomenal and it helps them to play the game.
‘It’s a much under-valued quality and a bit of a dying art I think. You can’t have enough good talkers on the pitch and he has exceptional quality in that area as well as quality on the ball.
‘He’s adapted and done a brilliant, brilliant job for us.’
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