EURO 2020: Liverpool’s Alexander Arnold to be axed from England’s final squad claims reports


EURO 2020: Liverpool’s Alexander Arnold to be axed from England’s final squad claims reports

Gareth Southgate and Trent Alexander Arnold

Liverpool’s Trent Alexander Arnold is all set to miss the Euros this year as reports in England. Coach Gareth Southgate has made a decision regarding his final 26-man squad and will announce it later today.

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Southgate had initially named a jumbo 33-man provisional squad and decided to make use of the UEFA’s norms which claim that squads can be tweaked before their first official outing. The all important question going into the D-day of squad selection was who Gareth Southgate picked as his first-choice right-backs for the competition.

Alexander Arnold has fallen behind Kyle Walker and Reece James in the pecking order

Arnold has been criticized for his lack of defensive capabilities off-late
Arnold has been criticized for his lack of defensive capabilities off-late

Sources in England have said that Chelsea’s Reece James and Manchester City’s Kyle Walker will be selected as the first choice right-backs ahead of Alexander Arnold. Atletico Madrid’s Kieran Trippier will be named as the third-choice defender and Arnold would eventually miss out on an Euros berth.

Alexander Arnold has often been criticized for his defensive play this season for Liverpool and the likes of Reece James and Kyle Walker have edged ahead in the pecking order at the moment. While Arnold’s offensive play is undoubtedly the best among these names, but it might not be enough for him to eke a place for himself in the Euros this year.

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Gareth Southgate will also have to omit a further 6 names alongside Arnold on Tuesday when he names his final England squad. The key decision for the English coach would come in the form of whether Harry Maguire is fit enough to make it in time for the Euros.

UEFA have set a deadline of 11 p.m. on Tuesday June 1 for countries to name their final 26-man squads, however, and preliminary medical checks will therefore be done on those players prior to joining up with the group.

Also Read: Didier Deschamps provides verdict on Karim Benzema’s return to the France squad for Euro 2020