Trent Alexander-Arnold sends message to Gareth Southgate after scoring winning England pen

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.”

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.

“I have faith in God. To comeback from something like that is really difficult, today I took the chance.”