It might have summed up Trent Alexander-Arnold’s England career that, slightly unfortunately, a precocious young right-back was responsible for Hungary’s winner on Saturday. It might, except for one minor detail: he had gone off a few minutes before his replacement, Reece James, conceded the decisive penalty for his challenge on Zsolt Nagy.
For Alexander-Arnold, a 17th international appearance resembled many of the previous 16: inconclusive but underwhelming. A phenomenon for Liverpool remains an enigma for England, one of the great advertisements for Jurgen Klopp part of the case for the prosecution for Gareth Southgate. Vinicius Junior may have emerged unchecked behind Alexander-Arnold to score the winner in the Champions League final but it was entirely uncontroversial when he was named in the team of the tournament in the most prestigious club competition of all. Meanwhile, he seems England’s fourth-choice right-back.
