Trent Alexander-Arnold's continuing England World Cup omission questioned by Cafu - 'Always the same story'

ByRob Hemingway

Updated 29/11/2022 at 18:04 GMT

Trent Alexander-Arnold "has everything" but suffers from the perception he can't defend, says ex-Brazil right-back Cafu. Alexander-Arnold has not seen a minute of action for England yet at the 2022 World Cup, with England boss Gareth Southgate preferring Kieran Trippier and - if reports are to be believed - Kyle Walker - for Tuesday's clash with Wales. Cafu says it's "always the same story".

Trent Alexander-Arnold's continuing England omission has been questioned by Cafu, with the Brazil legend saying he doesn't understand why the Liverpool defender cannot get into Gareth Southgate's team.

Alexander-Arnold is yet to play a minute for England at the 2022 World Cup, with Three Lions boss Southgate preferring Kieran Trippier for the first two games, and then - reportedly - switching to Kyle Walker for his side's final Group B encounter with Wales on Tuesday night.

England were criticised for their lack of goal threat in their forgettable 0-0 draw with the USA, something which Alexander-Arnold may have been able to address, with his statistics for Liverpool generally bearing him out as one of the most creative players in the Premier League.

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And former right-back Cafu, who is the only player to have ever appeared in three consecutive World Cup finals, lifting the 2002 trophy as skipper of the Selecao, admitted Alexander-Arnold's lack of action puzzles him.

“I don’t understand why," Cafu told La Gazzetta Dello Sport, as per Football Italia.

"He has everything: quality, dribbling, pace, but it’s always the same story, they say you are not defensive enough and you remain out.

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“Somebody used to say the same about Roberto Carlos and me, but I think we won something.

“Unfortunately, full-backs are too robotic these days, they get the ball, pass it, and run, I don’t see movements without the ball and no one-two passes.”

Trent Alexander-Arnold of England looks on during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between England and USA at Al Bayt Stadium on November 25, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar.

Image credit: Getty Images

Phil Foden is another creative player who has been largely out of the England side so far in Qatar, but reports state he is in line to start against Wales.

England are in pole position to qualify for the knockouts, barring a loss of four goals or more.

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