Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Lionel Messi-esque playmaking abilities could be the difference for England at Euro 2024.
That’s according to former Chelsea and Republic of Ireland striker Tony Cascarino, who was thrilled by the Liverpool man’s performance away at Malta.
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Alexander-Arnold was surprisingly handed the no.10 shirt for the Euro 2024 qualifier and soon showed why as he set up the opener before scoring the game’s second with a superb strike.
Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate has previously trialled the 24-year-old in such a role in 2021, and his club manager Jurgen Klopp has since done similar with excellent results.
According to talkSPORT host Cascarino, any other major international side would continue doing the same.
“You look at Trent and you know he can deliver,” he said. “Because you do it against Malta everyone thinks ‘will he get the chance against Germany, Argentina or Brazil in a quarter final World Cup game?’
“What I go back to is that they would play him. We all know that they would.
“Lionel Messi spent most of the World Cup walking around and yet went and won it. Am I comparing Trent to Messi? No. But he has qualities that aren’t far off him.
“Can he improve in that position too? We’re all looking at him thinking ‘that’s what we know he can do’ but can he improve on that?”
Trying to dissect Southgate’s thought process ahead of next summer, Cascarino continued: “If I know I’ve got Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham that can protect the back four.
“Maybe he’s the one that can make a difference in any given situation.
“He might not get in the team and he might be used as a sub, but he’s also the type of player that could be player of the tournament.”
