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4 months ago
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Who will Gareth Southgate play on the left, Luke Shaw or Kieran Trippier?
It is England up against the Netherlands at 8 pm on Wednesday night in Dortmund, with a place in the final at stake.
Kieran Trippier has started all five games so far on the left side, either as left-back or left wing-back.
Luke Shaw was available for the first time this tournament on Saturday and replaced Kieran Trippier late in the game against Switzerland.
Gareth Southgate asked at his pre-Netherlands match press conference whether it will be Luke Shaw or Kieran Trippier playing on the left:
“Luke Shaw has been injured for four months, so it wasn’t a possibility for him to play until the last match [against Switzerland].
“He made a good contribution to the game [when coming off the bench].
“We have to make the decision if he’s ready to start and [whether] it is the best way to use him.
“We are happy he’s back, he gives us a different balance.
“Kieran Trippier has done a fantastic job.
“We have had a lot of big nights in the last seven or eight years and he has been so important on those occasions.
“Also around the squad, how he is with the players and the staff.
“We are very fortunate to have players like him in our squad.”
My verdict?
For what it’s worth, I think Kieran Trippier has been in the top handful of England players this tournament, which admittedly isn’t the biggest claim to fame.
The vast majority of defensive problems have come down the England right and the Newcastle United star has done a great job tying down the left side defensively, whilst getting ridiculous blame from some for the lack of attacking threat down that side, when in reality that has been due to Southgate refusing to play an attacking play on the left in front of Trippier.
For me, Kieran Trippier has to start tonight, then simply a case of whether Gareth Southgate also plays Luke Shaw and moves Trippier to the right, or starts with the Manchester United player on the bench again.

 
