Micah Richards, like every English pundit has plenty to say after England drew 0-0 to Slovenia on Tuesday.
Despite Gareth Southgate’s side qualifying in first place out of Group C, a case could be made that not many teams at Euro 2024 have played a more inferior brand of football than the Three Lions.
In the business end of the tournament, the difficulty of the opponents will only increase.
Furthermore, knockout football has a tendency to be quite harsh on teams and as a result, it is high-time Gareth Southgate knows his best team to win the European Championship.
The 53-year-old was seemingly trying to solve England’s problems, taking Kieran Trippier off for Trent Alexander-Arnold while taking the surprise decision of deploying Kyle Walker as a left-back.
Micah Richards makes fresh Kyle Walker suggestion after England drew to Slovenia
While the £175,000-a-week man has been deployed as a centre-back and even spent time in goal against Atalanta in the Champions League, he has never played as a left-back for Manchester City.
There has never emerged any reason for the 34-year-old to play in the position, considering he has been a world-class right-back for years.
But Micah Richards reckons that Walker should be deployed as a left-back for England, potentially starting from their Round of 16 clash on Sunday.
Richards on The Rest Is Football podcast: “I think that [Kyle] Walker can play left-back, like he did when Trent [Alexander-Arnold] came on the pitch. I feel as though England can go at that three at the back with [John] Stones, [Marc] Guehi and Walker.”
“And you’re still getting the width from Alexander-Arnold on that side, you’re getting quality into the box and him at times is moving into midfield as well.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold would be a better fit for the role than Kyle Walker
While Micah Richards’ rationale about Walker playing in a back three when England have possession is sensible, considering he often does for Manchester City, it would make far more sense for Trent Alexander-Arnold to operate as a makeshift left-back.
Considering the English have struggled to create chances, Alexander-Arnold could help the left-hand side of their attack become more potent if he was tasked to play as an inverted left-back.
For Liverpool, the Champions League winner has often tucked into midfield from full-back and created chances galore for his side.
Either Marc Guehi or Joe Gomez, who plays alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold at Anfield could be instructed to cover for the enigmatic full-back once he pushes forward.
As brilliant a defender as Walker is, in the past two seasons, he has displayed his flaws in possession and for the experienced right-back to play on the opposite flank might further highlight his weaknesses.
Furthermore, John Stones, who has come into the tournament off the back of an injury-riddled season might still need more match-fitness and the former Tottenham Hotspur colossus plays a key role in easing his burden on the right-hand side of defence.
With such factors at play, Walker should remain England’s starting right-back moving forward in the competition.
