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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Southgate to back his stars</li><li>Alexander-Arnold &amp; Foden will keep their places</li><li>Trippier also fit to play the 90 minutes</li></ul>

Gareth Southgate persists! Trent Alexander-Arnold & Phil Foden set to start for England vs Denmark despite criticism for performances in Euro 2024 opener

According to the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13548117/Trent-Alexander-Arnold-Phil-Foden-England-Denmark-Man-City-Serbia.html" target="_blank">Daily Mail,</a> Southgate is poised to maintain faith in his starting 11 from England’s Euro 2024 opener and keep <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/how-england-line-up-denmark-euro-2024-replace-trent-alexander-arnold-midfield-conor-gallagher/blt8227b65c620f4956" target="_blank">Alexander-Arnold in a central midfield role </a>and Foden on the left side of the attack against Denmark, as he prefers continuity over change just after one match in the tournament. Traditionally a right-back, Alexander-Arnold partnered with Declan Rice in the midfield against Serbia, but the Liverpool player failed to convince, which led to his substitution for Conor Gallagher in the second half.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Foden, who also faced scrutiny following his performance against Serbia, is expected to get another opportunity to prove his doubters wrong. The Manchester City playmaker’s display was deemed underwhelming by some, yet Southgate is <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/is-phil-foden-england-career-doomed-paul-scholes-man-city-star-misused-like-utd-legend-turn-up-denmark-face-axe/blt55e8a11bcff35589" target="_blank">likely to persist with him</a>, aiming to unlock his creative potential alongside Jude Bellingham in attack.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Speaking to ITV, Southgate defended Foden and said: "I thought Phil did an incredible job for the team on Sunday. You know, sometimes the bits with the ball are obvious and they catch the eye, but the amount of ground he covered, the angles of pressing, the filling in for people who were further forward. I thought without Phil’s contribution without the ball – and I know that’s not the sexy bit and everybody wants to see him on the ball – I don’t think we win the game. So then later in the game when we needed somebody to retain the ball and take the pressure, I thought he did that really well for us."I think Phil has obviously set an incredibly high bar at Manchester City, where he knows exactly where every player is going to be every time he picks the ball up. A club that he’s been at since he’s been 13 years old. He used to go in there during the week for training, so an environment that he’s known nothing else. With us, we’re always having to adapt to different team-mates, different runs they make and there is adaptation with that.”

WHAT SOUTHGATE SAID

Trippier, who was suffering from cramps against Serbia, is also expected to start against Denmark which will see him earn his 50th cap for England. However, Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw will miss the clash as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury. Shaw, who has been sidelined since February, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/england-man-utd-star-luke-shaw-still-missing-at-euro-2024/blt40df1bdbddd994ac" target="_blank">did not participate in training with the squad</a> on Wednesday and is following an individual programme away from the team.

DID YOU KNOW?

England’s focus will be on improving the midfield dynamics, defensive solidity and attacking fluidity against Denmark. Southgate’s trust in his initial line-up underscores a belief in the potential for improvement and success with the same group of players. However, the performances of Alexander-Arnold in midfield and Foden on the left will be particularly scrutinised and any shortcoming will only put more pressure on the manager to drop them for the final group stage match against Slovenia on June 25.

WHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND?

Gareth Southgate persists! Trent Alexander-Arnold & Phil Foden set to start for England vs Denmark despite criticism for performances in Euro 2024 opener | Goal.com

Gareth Southgate will stick with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Phil Foden against Denmark despite criticism of their performances against Serbia.

Gareth Southgate persists! Trent Alexander-Arnold &amp; Phil Foden set to start for England vs Denmark despite criticism for performances in Euro 2024 opener