England's Dominance Unleashed as Wales Falter Without Gareth Bale - Euro 2024 Qualifiers Unveil Startling Results
England's dominance accelerates as Wales struggle without Bale Trent Alexander-Arnold thrives in his new midfield role, showcasing brilliance in the No 10 shirt Gareth Southgate's selection challenges reach new heights, while Northern Ireland fights valiantly despite lacking experience
Trent wears the No 10 shirt well
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Trent Alexander-Arnold celebrates after his stunning goal for England against Malta
On the right side of England's midfield trio, Trent Alexander-Arnold embraced his opportunity to attack against Malta, although it wasn't exactly the traditional No 10 role that his assigned shirt number suggested. Gareth Southgate had previously tested the 24-year-old in midfield during a brief trial against Andorra in 2021, but this time, with his impressive performances for Liverpool in mind, the outcome was much more favorable. Alexander-Arnold expressed his satisfaction, stating, "It feels like a comfortable and natural fit."
He displayed his skill and precision when he effortlessly played a perfectly timed long pass that sent Bukayo Saka sprinting towards the right, setting up the first goal. Additionally, his remarkable strike into the top corner for the second goal further showcased his talent. Alongside this, there were numerous impressive touches and passes that demonstrated a promising connection forming between him, Saka, and Kieran Trippier, indicating a potential advantage for England in the times to come.
Because, despite the fact that their opponent was ranked 171st in the world by FIFA, there was ample evidence to convince Southgate that Alexander-Arnold's performance in midfield deserves further consideration.
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Harry Kane found the back of the net for England against Malta, indicating that Gareth Southgate had unleashed the full potential of his team. The cautious reputation attached to Southgate's managerial style has been subject to varying degrees of criticism, particularly during events like Croatia 2018 and Italy 2021, where his approach may have hindered England's success in crucial matches.
England's performance in the World Cup quarter-finals against France gave hope that the defence-first approach was a thing of the past. Despite narrowly missing out on victory, the team displayed a more balanced and aggressive style of play. This trend seems to be continuing, as England showcased their attacking prowess in their opening qualifying win over Italy, leaving behind any defensive reservations. Furthermore, their game against Malta on Friday night demonstrated a highly strategic and refined attacking strategy.
The island minnows may not be on par with England's level, but they have managed to avoid conceding more than twice in a single game for the past two years. To break this streak, Southgate devised a plan to encourage a more attacking approach, distributing more licenses to attack than he has ever done in his almost six-year tenure.
Whether it was Alexander-Arnold assuming a free midfield role, reminiscent of one pioneered by one of the most attack-minded football managers, or Luke Shaw being invited to play as a second left-winger, with Maddison moving inside to create additional challenges in the spaces between the lines.
Southgate's faith in Trent's defensive abilities has evolved to the point where he has entrusted him with the prestigious No 10 shirt, even deploying him in that position during the second half. The renowned 3-4-3 formation was ultimately abandoned prior to the World Cup, and if Southgate continues to employ such attacking strategies, his defensive reputation will gradually fade away.
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Callum Wilson added England's fourth from the penalty spot, having come on as a substitute
Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker, John Stones and Kalvin Phillips were left on the bench.
Eberechi Eze joined the ranks of talented youngsters making their senior debut, following in the footsteps of Jude Bellingham, Mason Mount, Ben Chilwell, Reece James, Raheem Sterling, Ivan Toney, Ben White, and Nick Pope. The conveyor belt continues with Levi Colwill set to be the next to shine.
Alexander-Arnold has been given the opportunity to showcase his skills in midfield and is displaying a strong desire to secure a regular spot in the England national team. England has now surpassed France in terms of the variety of talented players at their disposal, presenting Gareth Southgate with the challenge of selecting his squad for Euro 2024, which promises to be his most difficult task yet.
No Bale, loads of problems for Wales
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Wales' Ethan Ampadu and Aaron Ramsey appear dejected after Armenia went 2-1 up
Wales lacked the presence of Gareth Bale, which highlighted their lack of depth. Despite being 2-1 down to Armenia at halftime, there was still a possibility of victory for Robert Page's team against a relatively lower-ranked team at 97th in the world.
Typically, Bale would have come to their rescue in such scenarios. However, the team seemed to have lost their way on the field, lacking clear leadership and direction.
Underestimating the opposition was clearly evident as they displayed a noticeable deficiency in quality, resulting in their downfall against the remarkable offensive skills of Lucas Zelarayan and the promising 19-year-old Grant-Leon Ranos, recently acquired by Borussia Monchengladbach from Bayern Munich.
Joe Rodon's failure to quickly recover from his mistake, resulting in Armenia's second goal, exposed his lack of determination. Wales is now aware that they must produce a strong response as they prepare to face Turkey on Monday. This upcoming match is crucial for Wales, as they need to secure a victory in order to maintain their chances of qualifying for the next stage.
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Despite the return of Jonny Evans, Ali McCann, and Shayne Lavery to the national team this month, Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill continues to face the absence of key players such as Steven Davis, Stuart Dallas, Corry Evans, Shane Ferguson, Jamal Lewis, and Josh Magennis. This shortage deprives his squad of valuable experience.
Northern Ireland's starting lineup at Parken consisted of only four players who had earned 30 caps or more. Trai Hume and Isaac Price had two caps each, while Shea Charles had played for his country six times. Despite the talent and experience in the Danish side, Northern Ireland put up a tough fight. They struggled to create opportunities in the final third, especially in the first half, but managed to restrict their hosts to just five shots, none of which were considered 'big chances' statistically. Although the winning goal was deserved, it could have been prevented. O'Neill's young players performed admirably and minimized the damage when it mattered the most.
Callum Marshall, an 18-year-old who signed his first professional contract at West Ham seven months ago, deserves some consideration. He was among the five debutants in the Northern Ireland squad for their game against Denmark. Out of all the debutants, Marshall was the only one who had the chance to play on Friday. In the 94th minute, he scored what seemed to be a legendary equalizer, making his mark in the history books. However, Marshall's hopes were shattered five minutes later when VAR intervened, leaving him devastated.
He handled it with resilience. Speaking to Viaplay, he described how the experience went from being the most exhilarating moments of his career to some of the most difficult to accept. Despite this, he expressed pride in making his debut and emphasized that even though the goal didn't count, his ability to score was showcased in those few minutes he played. Now, he is determined to prove himself and rectify the situation when he faces Kazakhstan at Windsor Park on Monday.
