"I think he can be a crucial player for England" - Dirk Kuyt urges Southgate to make crucial change to XI for Euro 2024 S/F clash
Former Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt has urged England boss Gareth Southgate to play Trent Alexander-Arnold in their upcoming Euro 2024 semi-final clash against the Netherlands. The Three Lions will face Oranje on Wednesday, July 10, at Signal Iduna Park.
Alexander-Arnold started in midfield for England's first two group-stage fixtures of the tournament against Serbia and Denmark. The Liverpool right-back was subbed off in both games in the second half and was an unused substitute in the third match against Slovenia.
Alexander-Arnold only came on as a late substitute in England's matches against Slovakia and Switzerland and has had a reduced role at Euro 2024 recently.
Speaking ahead of the semi-final against the Netherlands, Kuyt heaped praise on Alexander-Arnold and insisted that Southgate should put him in the starting XI. He told Ladbrokes (via Irish outlet Balls.ie):
"From my point of view, Trent Alexander-Arnold is at his best when he has the ball at his feet. His short-passing, his long-passing, his crosses, they're amazing. People always want to put players in a position, or in a certain zone, but Trent can play as a wing-back, he can play in the midfield... I've seen so much of him, and all I can say is that, with the ball at his feet, he's an amazing player."
"I'd always be putting Alexander-Arnold in that England team; and from the perspective of a coach, I think about having the ball; when you have the ball, you have less to defend. And, when it comes to quality on the ball, we're talking, here, about someone who almost never loses it. His decision-making is always spot on, and he's just so, so impactful from his set-piece deliveries... I think he can be a crucial player for England."
"These kind of games are won by very small details, and if you go back and watch Liverpool when they won everything they won under Jurgen Klopp, you will see Trent was always involved in those big moments."
Alexander-Arnold has won the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup, and two Carabao Cups under Klopp's management at Liverpool.
"England have not amazed me yet" - Dirk Kuyt makes honest admission ahead of Euro 2024 semi-finals
Dirk Kuyt has admitted that England have not impressed him so far at Euro 2024. The former Liverpool striker believes the Three Lions have far greater potential given the squad at their disposal.
Despite reaching the Euro 2024 semi-finals, Southgate's men have received criticism for their performances. The Three Lions won only one fixture during the group stages and came close to elimination in the Round of 16 and the quarter-finals as well.
Slovakia took an early lead in their last-16 clash, but Jude Bellingham earned them a lifeline with a magnificent bicycle kick. England conceded first in the quarter-final against Switzerland as well, but they were saved by Bukayo Saka's excellent strike.
Regarding the team's form at the Euro 2024 so far, Kuyt said:
"There are just so many quality players throughout that England team; people talk about Jude Bellingham, and he's brilliant, but they have so many more players in there, as well. But, from what I've seen so far, in attack in particular, they're not showing what they can do. They still have so much more to offer. England have not amazed me yet, especially on the ball. They have much more to offer, I think."