Frank Leboeuf has aimed a slight dig at Kieran Trippier ahead of England's crucial World Cup quarter-final clash against France on Saturday.
The 32-year-old started England's first two matches against Iran and USA but was named on the bench ahead of the Three Lions' win over Wales last Tuesday, with Kyle Walker coming back into the side. Trippier came on for the final 35 minutes as Gareth Southgate's side booked their place in the knockout stages.
Southgate decided to go without Trippier for the last-16 tie against Senegal, too, with Walker keeping his place on the right side of defence. But there have been calls for the Newcastle man to return to the starting XI for the clash with France as Southgate ponders whether to go to a back-five for the quarter-final tie.
Such a move would likely mean Trippier playing at right-wing back with Walker on the right side of a back-three. However, it is not known whether Southgate will change the team that beat Senegal on Sunday.
Ahead of the game, ex-France star Leboeuf has decided to take a swipe at Trippier for "complaining" about someone stepping on his toes in the win over Iran - citing it shows how the game has changed since he played.
"Football has just changed so much in recent years; and that lack of physicality in the game is the reason I'm less interested in it right now," Leboeuf told Ladbrokes at the launch of their World Cup Free-To-Play Halftime Quiz.
"You saw in England's opener against Iran, Kieran Trippier was complaining about somebody stepping on his toes. It's something you'll see probably 10 times a game nowadays, and I can't believe it.
"Maybe they've completely changed the fabrics of the boots or something, but that never, ever happened in my time. A player would step on your foot, for sure, and you’d say, 'Wow, okay, that hurts'. But you'd get on with it and maybe do it back to him next time.
"But now, someone steps on your toe and it’s this huge deal and the game stops to check you’re okay. It’s completely different."
Trippier's Newcastle beat Leboeuf's former side Chelsea before the international break thanks to Joe Willock's second-half strike, a win that put the Magpies in the top four heading into Christmas. Eddie Howe's men have started the season superbly and have lost just one Premier League game, coming in a 2-1 defeat at Liverpool back in late August.
Newcastle are currently out in Saudi Arabia on a warm weather training camp as they prepare for the Premier League restart. If England make it all the way to the final on December 18, Trippier and Magpies teammates Callum Wilson and Nick Pope have just a week to get back and be ready for Newcastle's clash against Leicester on Boxing Day.
