OPINION
England manager Gareth Southgate has a tough job, there’s no doubt about that. However, sometimes he makes it even more difficult by making baffling selection decisions.
One of those mind-boggling decisions was his choice to start Atletico Madrid star Kieran Trippier ahead of Liverpool regular Trent Alexander-Arnold at right back against the Czech Republic on Friday night.
The Three Lions went on to lose the game 2-1, and while you can’t say that Alexander-Arnold alone would have prevented that result, it was strange to see Southgate leave out a man regarded by most as the finest right back in Europe.
The 21-year-old will surely have been fuming when Southgate informed the squad of the team, wondering what more he has to do before he’s recognised as England’s undisputed first choice right back.
It was a decision from Southgate that made no sense. When you look at the form of Alexander-Arnold – on a reported £40,000-per-week at Anfield [Source: Spotrac] – and Trippier this season, there’s no question of who’s been the better player.
As per WhoScored.com, the Liverpool man is averaging more interceptions, clearances and blocks per game than the 29-year-old. So for everybody who say the knock on Alexander-Arnold is his defending, he’s actually been better than Trippier in that regard this term.
Offensively he’s been superior, too, scoring more goals and providing more assists. Furthermore, the youngster is averaging more shots and key passes per outing.
Plus one of them is 29 and one of them is 21. Who do you want to build around moving forward? Hint, it’s not the former. This was simply a crazy decision from Southgate, and one that was punished in Prague.
