Liverpool full-back was included in the 26-man squad among four other right-backs for the Euros, which is set to start on June 12.
After being axed for the World Cup qualifiers against San Marino, Albania, and Poland, Trent made the cut in the 33-man provisional Euro 2020 squad earlier last week.
The 22-year-old struggled in the first half of the season and hence was dropped from the squad by Gareth Southgate. When asked if his exclusion was due to the calf injury he suffered earlier, the manager denied it and stated the following as the reason.
“I don’t think he’s played at the level he’s been at during the last few years. He’s a big talent and I’m sure he will play a big role for England in the future.”
he said.
Since then, TAA played a crucial role in Liverpool’s late surge for a Champions League spot. He scored a late goal against Aston Villa from outside the box and assisted twice during the game against Manchester United. Allison Becker’s last-minute header against West Brom came from an inswinger by none other than Trent.
Alexander-Arnold made the cut when England announced their 26-man squad for the Euros yesterday. He will contest a starting place among his fellow right-backs and will look to add to his 12 caps.
Players failed to make it to the final squad: Mason Greenwood (Man Utd), Jesse Lingard (WHU, Man Utd loanee), Aaron Ramsdale (Sheffield), Ben White (BHA), Ben Godfrey (Everton), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton), and Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).
“I think every squad [selection] is difficult because we have a lot of talented players in this country.
“The most difficult thing [this time] is not being able to take players who have been with us in previous matches and are such good professionals, so I know what a disappointment it is for them, at the moment, not to be going to a major championship.”
Southgate said:
The Three Lions are a part of Group D and will start their campaign on June 13 against Croatia, following which they play against Scotland (June 18) and the Czech Republic (June 22). All the group stage games will take place at the Wembley Stadium.
If Three Lions top the group, they will face the second-place team from Group F, which includes Portugal, Germany, France, or Hungary. If they finish second, they will take on the second-place team from Group E – either Spain, Sweden, Poland, or Slovakia.
The England manager also admitted that anything less than a semi-finals spot would be deemed a failure considering the expectations and the squad strength they possess. England, who have never won the Euros, will look to turn things around.
