Some were surprised by the Atlético defender’s selection at left-back but experience and awareness earned him the spot
The left-field selection came at left-back. Kieran Trippier had started in the position on only four previous occasions – once for
Tottenham in the EFL Cup against Barnsley in 2017 and three times for
England this season: against Iceland,
Belgium and Austria. Now, Gareth Southgate had given him the role for Sunday’s Euro 2020 opener against Croatia.
The surprise was rooted, equally, in who Southgate had overlooked – Ben Chilwell and Luke Shaw; specialist left-backs at the peak of their powers after standout seasons with
Chelsea and
Manchester United. Chilwell has just won the
Champions League. Now, he did not make the 12-man bench, leaving him to reflect, ostensibly, on having come in third in a two-horse race.