Trent Alexander-Arnold has sparked speculation after telling friends about an England team-mate who ‘didn’t want to take a penalty’ during the penalty shootout win over Switzerland.
The Liverpool star came on as a substitute in the second half of extra time to take a penalty in the shoot-out and scored the decisive spot-kick to send England through to the semi-finals.
Alexander-Arnold was brought on by Gareth Southgate to take a penalty, a decision that paid off as he sent Yann Sommer the wrong way after Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Ivan Toney had all scored.
The 25-year-old celebrated his victory with friends and family after the match, saying in a viral video that he “didn’t want one.”
His comment sparked a debate over who didn’t want to take a penalty.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was seen telling his family that a player did not want to take a penalty
Fans have been debating who the Liverpool star could have been referring to
Players who were on the pitch at the time of the penalty shootout and did not take a penalty included Jordan Pickford, John Stones, Kyle Walker, Declan Rice, Luke Shaw and Eberechi Eze.
But the two players fans thought the 25-year-old was referring to were Harry Kane and Phil Foden.
Both players were sent off in extra time, with Alexander-Arnold replacing Foden and Toney replacing Kane, moments after the England captain collided with Southgate on the touchline after being pushed by Manuel Akanji.
One fan wrote: ‘Foden for sure. On the hook with 7 minutes to go for Trent.’
Another Twitter user wrote: “He didn’t want to take one,” Foden said.
A third person suggested Foden, saying: ‘It could be Eze because he looked nervous, but I definitely think it’s Foden.’
“Probably Kane as he has been a surprise for most of the tournament,” wrote another supporter.
One Arsenal fan dismissed suggestions it could be Rice, saying: “Kane and Foden have already been on the hook as a joke and Chelsea fans were shouting ‘Rice’ in their comments,” with laughing emojis.
An England fan has slammed Alexander-Arnold for the comment he made to his family: ‘It doesn’t look good for Trent if the England training camp sees this.’
It is also possible that Alexander-Arnold was referring to a Swiss player. He is said to have faced Man City’s Akanji on several occasions and also played with Xherdan Shaqiri at Liverpool.
Sources close to the England training camp say the penalty takers were chosen by Southgate and his coaching staff, and the players were not given a choice.
Alexander-Arnold scored the fifth and decisive penalty for England, sending them through to the semi-finals
“These are the goals and ambitions we set for ourselves,” the Liverpool defender told BBC Sport.
‘They were tough opponents, again, they went behind. The team showed a lot of character, a lot of belief, a lot of heart and soul. They dug deep when it mattered most, and of course took the win in a penalty shootout.
‘We knew it was going to be exciting and we weren’t going to win the game just like that, although that would have been nice.
“But whatever it takes, whatever happens, we win. And that’s all that matters to us.”