Ian Wright says he ‘feels sorry’ for Trent Alexander-Arnold after England’s 1-1 draw with Denmark (ITV)
Ian Wright has hit back at Gareth Southgate’s claim that England are suffering from the absence of Kalvin Phillips following the 1-1 draw with Denmark at Euro 2024.
England delivered a disjointed performance in their second match in Group C on Thursday and while they currently sit top with four points, there are major concerns over how the Three Lions will go in the knockout phase.
Speaking after the draw with Denmark, Southgate pointed to the absence of Phillips, who played in all seven of England’s matches when they reached the final at Euro 2020 but is missing from the squad this summer due to his lack of playing time at Manchester City and West Ham this season.
‘We know it’s an experiment and we know that we don’t have a natural replacement for Kalvin Phillips,’ Southgate said.
‘We’re trying some different things and at the moment we’re not flowing as we’d like, that’s for sure.’
England will now play Slovenia in their final match in Group C next Tuesday evening.
Gareth Southgate says England are feeling the absence of Kalvin Phillips at Euro 2024 (The FA via Getty)
But Wright has disputed Southgate’s suggestion and claims both Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton are both in the squad and can replace Phillips.
Asked who he would start in midfield ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was taken off after just 54 minutes against Denmark, Wright told ITV: ‘Either Kobbie or Wharton, I’d probably put Wharton in there simply because he’s the closest I’ve seen to Fabian Ruiz.
‘When I’ve seen him in the last few games for Palace at the end of the season, his calmness, he’s calm, he’s got a pass.
‘He’s a very intelligent player and I think he’s somebody that wouldn’t panic in this situation. He’s been picked in the squad.
‘Listening to Gareth, I think he mentioned about Kalvin Phillips and he’s the only one in the country who can play that role, I don’t believe that.
‘I believe Adam Wharton can play it. I think Kobbie Mainoo can play it as well. You’ve picked them.
‘Now we’re in a situation where it’s not desperation because we’ve got four points but we’re in a place where we need something different, we need to change something.
‘We’ve got Cole Palmer, Anthony Gordon, we need to change something.’
Wright added: ‘Can I just say as well with Trent, I feel so sorry for him because he’s come in as a so-called quarterback with no one moving, what’s he supposed to do?
‘You see how hard it is to go in and do what he’s doing, he’s come in there with no plan.’
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