Gareth Southgate decides to drop England star for final Euro 2024 group game

Gareth Southgate is set to make a change to England’s midfield for the final Euro 2024 group game against Slovenia, bringing in Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher to replace Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The Three Lions will advance to the knockout stages of the Euros as Group C winners if they beat Slovenia in Cologne on Tuesday night.

England began their Euro 2024 campaign with a nervy 1-0 victory over Serbia before being held to a 1-1 draw by Denmark last time out.

Liverpool right-back Alexander-Arnold started against Serbia and Denmark alongside Declan Rice in England’s midfield but his performances have divided opinion.

Alexander-Arnold was subbed off after half-time in both group games and The Athletic say his replacement, Gallagher, is set to start against Slovenia.

Energetic midfielder Gallagher impressed for Chelsea last season, playing all but one of their Premier League games and captaining the side for most of the campaign in the absence of the injured Reece James.

Despite playing a crucial role for the Blues, Gallagher has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge, with Tottenham and Aston Villa among the clubs interested in a deal.

Alexander-Arnold was one of England’s most creative players against Serbia and Denmark but was accused of being ‘found out’ by Manchester United legend Roy Keane.

Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Rio Ferdinand were among those to declare that the Alexander-Arnold midfield experiment has failed, insisting Southgate must rejig his midfield as he looks to end England’s 58-year wait for a major trophy.

But Alexander-Arnold’s midfield partner Declan Rice launched a passionate defence of the 25-year-old following the deflating draw with Denmark.

‘It’s funny because people were calling for Trent to play in midfield,’ he told ITV. ‘Half the country are calling for Trent to play in midfield, and then you play him in midfield, and then you want to bring him down.

‘I don’t get it, I don’t get it at all. I’ll defend all of my boys until the day I never pull on an England shirt. Trent is one of the best players I’ve ever seen.

‘Don’t call for someone to play in a position and then backtrack all because you think he’s had a bad game or something.

‘I’ll tell you now: Trent can play in midfield. I’ve seen it at England, I’ve seen it for Liverpool, he’s unbelievable. That’s what I say to the people who say that type of stuff.’

Despite concerns over Alexander-Arnold’s role in midfield, ex-England manager Sam Allardyce believes it would be a mistake to rely on Gallagher, who he says is ‘not at this level’.

Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton are other options available to Southgate but he looks set to turn to Gallagher to solve England’s issues in midfield.

Speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football, podcast, Allardyce said: ‘I don’t think Conor Gallagher is the answer. He’s not at this level.

‘Conor’s still a young guy learning his trade. His work rate, closing down and winning the ball is very good, but his passing is not good enough to warrant a place.

‘If Gareth Southgate is still stuck on playing two in midfield then he needs to put Jude Bellingham in there because he can play both roles.

‘He can still arrive late and go forward, that’s the position where he started out. Sadly, he didn’t have his best game against Denmark either.

‘I think Gareth will change the midfield for the next game. It doesn’t look like he’ll change the system so it’s just about which two he’ll go with.’

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