Gareth Southgate is facing selection dilemmas as England prepares for their final group match against Slovenia on Tuesday. Following criticism of their performance in the 1-1 draw with Denmark, Southgate has opened up opportunities for new players to step in and improve the team’s control during matches. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s midfield role has been called an “experiment,” which has given rise to speculation that Conor Gallagher, Kobbie Mainoo or Adam Wharton could take over his position.
Meanwhile, Kieran Trippier, who has been filling in at left-back for the injured Luke Shaw, has played more than initially planned after missing games towards the end of the Premier League season. Although there was hope that Shaw would be fit to play by now, he has not been training with the team for the past two sessions. However, he was back on the pitch on Monday, raising the possibility of him featuring in the upcoming match.
If Trippier is rested for the final group game, it is likely that Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa could step in to take his place. Joe Gomez, who plays in a similar position for Liverpool, has also been considered as an option in defense. As Southgate navigates these selection decisions, he aims to address the team’s performance issues and ensure they have greater control on the field.