Gary Neville has criticised England manager Gareth Southgate for his “illegal” handling of Trent Alexander-Arnold against Slovakia.
Alexander-Arnold was benched for England’s last-16 clash and, speaking at half-time with the Three Lions trailing 1-0, Neville said he was surprised by the Liverpool star’s lack of involvement.
Despite advancing to the last 16 as winners of Group C, Southgate’s side faltered in their first three games in Germany and produced another dismal first-half performance against Slovakia.
England failed to get a single shot on target and fell behind at the break after Ivan Schranz broke the deadlock in the 25th minute.
Neville implored Southgate to make three changes at half-time (he ended up making none) and said Alexander-Arnold’s absence from the team should be “illegal”.
“Southgate has tried minimal interference but it’s not working,” Neville told ITV. This has Iceland vibes written all over it.
“It’s now or never for Gareth. He has to interfere and break the script because he’s already had four games like this. It’s not about making one or two changes, he needs to put three on the field.
“We have to see Palmer, we have to see Trent and we have to see Gordon. He has to change the entire narrative around this game because nothing is going to change if he doesn’t.
‘I’d trade Walker and put Trent in. Gordon will be a running back and we know Palmer is in better shape than the other players right now.
‘Trent, it’s illegal for that boy not to play football in a game like this for England.
“We can’t have Walker and Trippier as full-backs when we’re on the ball all the time.
“Trent is the best football player we’ve seen at right back in this country. He needs to be on the pitch.”
Fellow Manchester United legend Roy Keane agreed that Southgate should have made the changes at half-time.
“We can’t wait any longer, the wait is over,” he added. “It’s the most important team talk of Gareth Southgate’s career.
‘There have to be changes. Southgate has to get more energy. They look so flat that they don’t come together. How many more excuses can we make?’
‘This has been going on for months. There is a time to panic and there is a time to step up – England are still in it.
‘All the really good managers out there are players. You have to try it.
