Trent Alexander-Arnold sent a message to Gareth Southgate (Image: BBC)
Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold told Gareth Southgate he is ready to step up whenever he is needed. The 25-year-old started Euro 2024 as a key member of the starting XI and was handed the No.8 shirt in a new midfield role.
But he has had to settle for a place on the bench during the knockout stages.
Southgate introduced Alexander-Arnold for Phil Foden with just five minutes of extra-time to go in the quarter-final clash with Switzerland with the score tied at 1-1.
And he stepped up to score the decisive spot-kick to send the Three Lions through to the semi-finals.
"It is what we have practiced. When the gaffer said I was taking one, I enjoy it and I practice it - I knew I had to just execute it," Alexander-Arnold said. "All five penalties from us were great."
He added: "Incredible, these are the goals that we set for ourselves. Difficult opponent going behind and the team showed a lot of character, belief, heart and spirit out there.
"We knew it was going to be tight. Whatever it takes and no matter what we win - that is all that matters to us."
Trent Alexander-Arnold scored the winning penalty (Image: Getty)
Man of the match Bukayo Saka was equally as delighted as he buried the demons of missing from 12 yards in the Euro 2020 final.
He said: "I am going to put it up there, special. How we fought back and to go to penalties. Last time we took at penalty shootout at the Euros we know what happened. I believed. I felt like we dominated the whole game and the chance would come and I took it - I am proud of myself for that.
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"I have faith in God. To comeback from something like that is really difficult, today I took the chance."
