Trent Alexander-Arnold was visibly disappointed as he stood with the rest of the England team in front of frustrated fans after a lackluster performance in the 1-1 draw against Denmark. The experiment of playing him in central midfield seemed to have failed, leaving both him and manager Gareth Southgate with much to ponder.
The decision to use Alexander-Arnold out of position did not pay off, as England struggled to find structure and energy throughout the match. The team’s midfield, especially the partnership between Alexander-Arnold and Declan Rice, was easily overrun by Denmark, who capitalized on England’s vulnerabilities.
The absence of Kalvin Phillips, who was a key player in England’s Euro 2020 final run, was also felt. Phillips’ defensive abilities and physical presence were sorely missed, leaving Rice with limited options to assert pressure on the opponents. The midfield duo failed to provide the necessary support to protect the defense, resulting in a disjointed performance overall.
Despite Harry Kane scoring a goal, he was largely isolated and ineffective in the game, highlighting England’s struggles to involve their star striker. The lack of creativity and cohesion in midfield further compounded England’s issues, with substitutions failing to provide the desired impact.
Looking ahead, Southgate will need to address the team’s shortcomings before facing Slovenia. The performance against Denmark showed that England still have much room for improvement if they are to live up to their pre-tournament expectations. The upcoming matches against tough opponents like Italy, France, and Spain will require a significant improvement in England’s overall gameplay.
While there were a few bright spots, such as Phil Foden’s attacking threat and Marc Guehi’s defensive stability, England must work on finding a better balance in midfield and getting Kane more involved in the game. The pressure from fans and the media will only increase if England fail to deliver convincing performances in the upcoming matches.
Ultimately, Southgate and his team need to regroup and focus on their weaknesses to ensure a stronger showing in the rest of the tournament. The road to lifting the trophy will be challenging, but with the right adjustments and improvements, England still have a chance to make a mark in the competition.
