Gary Neville candidly admitted that England’s narrow victory over Slovakia at the Euros was largely down to luck, pointing out Gareth Southgate’s contentious decision to leave out Trent Alexander-Arnold as “a mistake.” Alexander-Arnold, absent for the first time in this tournament, watched from the sidelines as England barely edged Slovakia 2-1 in extra time. Despite securing a place in the quarter-finals, England’s overall performance has been underwhelming, marked by consistent struggles on the field. Neville sharply criticized Southgate’s tactical choices, particularly questioning the absence of Alexander-Arnold, whom he hailed as the country’s premier full-back. Even though England managed to secure victory with late heroics from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, Neville conceded that luck played a significant role. 

He emphasized the urgent need for substantial changes, suggesting Southgate was on the brink of crucial adjustments. Alongside Neville, Ian Wright reflected on England’s tournament journey, noting a tendency towards individual brilliance rather than cohesive team play, exacerbated by Southgate’s lineup decisions. Alexander-Arnold, previously scrutinized for his midfield role in earlier matches, became a focal point of this discussion. 

Wright stressed the importance of implementing structural improvements to enhance England’s chances in upcoming fixtures.