‘What’s going on here?’ – England icon Rio Ferdinand questions Southgate’s decision to drop Alexander-Arnold and Tomori
RIO FERDINAND was outraged by Gareth Southgate’s decision not to include Trent Alexander-Arnold and Fikayo Tomori in the matchday squad to face Germany.
The defensive pair were also left out against Italy so will not play a minute for England over the international break with the World Cup away.
Southgate opted for Reece James at right wing-back once again at Wembley and Alexander-Arnold’s omission from the squad left Ferdinand perplexed.
Speaking on his Vibe with Five podcast, Ferdinand remarked: “How is Trent not in the England squad? What’s going on here?
“I can’t have it. I don’t know how he has not taken him.
“He’s not even in the squad I don’t understand, it’s either “I know what he is, he’s brilliant, he is going to play anyway”, or “He ain’t for me”, what is it?”
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Ferdinand then switched his focus to Tomori and questioned his continued absence from the team.
The former Manchester United star wants Southgate to give the centre-back an opportunity, particularly as Ferdinand believes there is a dearth of talent in that position.
Ferdinand continued: “That’s the question that needs to be asked. I can’t believe [it], Tomori has won Serie A.
“He is playing really well as an integral player in that team and can’t get anywhere near the squad, let alone the team, he can’t get in the squad for the game.
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“It’s not like we are sitting here and going ‘We’ve got an unbelievable amount of centre-backs to pick from by the way’, give him a go and have a look, see if he can do it.”
Alexander-Arnold and Tomori were left out against Germany along with Jarrod Bowen and James Ward-Prowse.
It comes after France legend Frank Leboeuf described Alexander-Arnold’s defending as “Championship level”.
He said of the Liverpool right-back: “Look at Trent Alexander-Arnold. I love the guy, his offensive qualities.
“But defensively, he’s Championship level.
”Only [Jurgen] Klopp’s system works for him.
“When it doesn’t work as well as it has this season, all you see is his defensive shortcomings.”