Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s listing in the Euro 2024 squad has taken England fans by surprise.
Not because they don’t fully deserve to be there, but due to their respective positions on the squad list.
Real Madrid midfielder Bellingham, who often plays as a free-roaming No.8 for the Three Lions, has been listed amongst the forwards.
Meanwhile Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has been named alongside England’s midfielders.
Though the Reds academy graduate has at times played in central midfield for England to accommodate Kyle Walker’s place in the starting XI.
England fans were quick to point out the changes in Gareth Southgate’s provisional 33-man Euro 2024 squad, which could serve as possible clues for his starting XI at the tournament.
The initial squad will be cut to 26 players on June 8 following the warm-up friendlies against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland.
Taking to X, one user posted: “Trent listed as a midfielder for England is something I’m excited for.”
Another messaged: “Listing Bellingham as a forward is both hilarious and terrifying to the other 23 teams.”
A third added: “Trent being listed as a midfielder annoys me. But I am genuinely appalled at Bellingham being listed as a forward.”
England's Euro 2024 squad
Gareth Southgate has named a provisional squad, which will be trimmed to 26
GOALKEEPERS: Aaron Ramsdale, Dean Henderson, James Trafford, Jordan Pickford
DEFENDERS: Harry Maguire, Jarrad Branthwaite, Jarell Quansah, John Stones, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker, Lewis Dunk, Luke Shaw, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Joe Gomez
MIDFIELDERS: Adam Wharton, Conor Gallagher, Curtis Jones, Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, Trent Alexander-Arnold
FORWARDS: Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Eberechi Eze, Harry Kane, Ivan Toney, Jack Grealish, James Maddison, Jarrod Bowen, Phil Foden, Ollie Watkins
This England fan then said: “Trent as a midfielder is hilarious.”
Meanwhile another simply stated: “In what world is Bellingham a forward?”
Southgate commented on Bellingham and Alexander-Arnold being listed in different positions in his press conference.
He remarked: “I wouldn’t be obsessed with where we’ve positioned the players.
“I write a list and other people put a heading on it. I don’t know where players will be cut.
“In another couple of weeks we will be a lot clearer on a number of issues.”
He later said: “Jude has played all season as a number 10 and sometimes, has defended on the left. It’s all about where they end up.
“We don’t pin players to a touchline, that’s not how we work.”