Gary Lineker agrees after Gary Neville calls Trent Alexander-Arnold issue ‘illegal’

Gary Neville and Gary Lineker were left stunned by Gareth Southgate’s choice not to use Trent Alexander-Arnold against Slovakia.

England reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 with Jude Bellingham scoring a stunning 95th-minute equalizer to keep both his team’s dreams and Southgate’s job intact. Harry Kane then sealed victory by scoring the winner just over a minute into stoppage time, although the change did little to prevent a nationwide inquiry after another lackluster performance.

Speaking on ITV during the match, Neville said he was baffled by Southgate’s reluctance to make changes as the team desperately searched for an equalizer and claimed it was “illegal” that Liverpool star Alexander-Arnold was not called up for his creativity.

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Lineker echoed Neville’s sentiments, arguing on The Rest Is Football podcast that Alexander-Arnold’s absence was sorely felt: “I know we won in the end and his (Southgate’s) lack of changes ‘worked’ bizarrely. But when you’re 20. minutes to go and you’re 1-0, playing against a team that’s trying to defend, not to bring Trent on for Kyle Walker (is surprising),” he said.

“He needed the quality, the delivery, the passing, the passing of Trent Alexander-Arnold. I mean (the game) was crying out for it.”

Speaking at half-time, Neville said: “Trent Alexander-Arnold, it’s illegal for that boy not to play football in any game like this for England today. on the ball most of the time.

“This is the kid who is the best football player we’ve ever seen at right-back, or full-back, in this country. He’s got to be on the pitch.”

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Southgate’s decision to stick with Walker was ultimately vindicated as the Manchester City defender helped England level with a long throw into the box which Marc Guehi turned on for Bellingham to finish. However, the former Middlesbrough boss still faces questions over his squad selection and reluctance to change things up.

He made just one change from the side that struggled to draw with Slovenia last week, keeping faith with stars like Bellingham, Kane, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka despite their poor performances. Southgate also delayed making his second substitution against Slovakia until the 84th minute and his third until the 94th minute.

Slovakia opened the scoring on 25 minutes through Ivan Schranz and came close to doubling their lead when David Strelec narrowly missed after lobbing Jordan Pickford from halfway. Earlier, Foden had a goal ruled out for offside, Declan Rice hit the bar from distance and Kane failed to convert a header from close range.

But despite England’s possession and sporadic half chances, they never really looked at ease. The last-minute turnaround will likely boost morale, but it remains to be seen whether this can solve the team’s underlying tactical problems.

Next up for England is a match against Switzerland on Saturday. A win there would secure a place in the semi-finals against Romania, the Netherlands, Austria or Turkey.