England star Trent Alexander-Arnold was caught on camera suggesting one of his Three Lions team-mates didn’t want to take a penalty against Switzerland. The Liverpool player scored the winning penalty as the Euro 2024 quarter-final match was decided on spot kicks after it had finished 1-1 after extra time.
Alexander-Arnold remained on the bench for most of the encounter in Dusseldorf but was brought on to replace Phil Foden five minutes before the end of extra time.
He then stepped up to dispatch England’s fifth penalty after Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Ivan Toney had all converted.
Alexander-Arnold wandered over to the crowd to celebrate his country’s victory and was seen talking to some familiar faces.
And as the exchange was caught on camera and shared on X, the 2019 Champions League winner can be heard saying: “He didn’t want to take one.”
The talented star didn’t specify which player he was referring to, with Harry Kane also being taken off in extra time after Ezri Konsa, Kieran Trippier and Kobbie Mainoo had been substituted in normal time.
Alexander-Arnold started England’s first two matches at Euro 2024 against Serbia and Denmark respectively as he was handed a central midfield role alongside Declan Rice.
But he was dropped for the final group encounter after the Three Lions underwhelmed and has been unable to win his place back for his country’s first two knockout matches.
The versatile player insisted, however, that he only cared about his country’s results when he was quizzed by the BBC in the aftermath of the Switzerland match. “Incredible,” he gushed. “These are the goals we set for ourselves.
“The team showed a lot of character, belief, heart and spirit, dug deep when it mattered most. We knew we were never going to run away with the game, so whatever it takes, no matter what, we win. That’s all that matters to us.”
England will take on the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semi-finals after Ronald Koeman’s team defeated Turkey 2-1 in the last of the four quarter-finals on Saturday evening.
The Netherlands were forced to come from behind in their last eight clash as Samet Akaydin headed Turkey in front 10 minutes before half time.
Stefan de Vrij drew the Dutch team level with 20 minutes of the match remaining. And the Netherlands secured the victory when Mert Muldur turned the ball into his own net six minutes later.
