Roy Keane was far from impressed with Trent Alexander-Arnold despite England’s 2-1 victory over Croatia at Wembley.
The former Manchester United captain delivered strong criticism of the defender after spotting another weakness in his defensive game.
Keane questioned Alexander-Arnold’s ability to read danger and track opposition players. He also suggested that the England international had failed to learn from his previous mistakes.
England secured the victory in their UEFA Nations League group-stage match on Friday, November 13, 2026. Morgan Rogers and Harry Kane helped Thomas Tuchel’s side claim all three points.
However, the result did not hide some defensive problems. Croatia created several dangerous moments, especially from set pieces.
Roy Keane Questions Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Defensive Skills
Keane focused on Alexander-Arnold after a worrying moment in England’s penalty area.
The incident happened around 30 minutes before the final whistle. Croatia won a corner and put the England defence under pressure.
Jarell Quansah failed to deal with the ball cleanly. His attempted header towards Jordan Pickford also created a difficult situation.
Keane understood that Quansah looked nervous during the incident. However, he believed Alexander-Arnold also deserved criticism.
The former Manchester United captain felt the defender should have spotted the danger earlier.
Speaking on ITV Sport, Keane explained that Alexander-Arnold needed to watch the movement of opponents behind him.
He also questioned why the Liverpool-born defender moved away from the dangerous area.
Keane then made a sharp comment about the player’s development.
He suggested that Alexander-Arnold still had not learned how to improve this part of his game, despite his experience.
Keane Wants Alexander-Arnold to Read the Game Better
For Keane, defending is about more than making tackles or winning aerial battles.
A good defender must understand danger before an opponent creates a scoring opportunity.
This is where Keane believes Alexander-Arnold still needs to improve.
The England international has excellent passing skills and attacking vision. However, Keane wants to see greater discipline from him when defending.
He believes Alexander-Arnold must react faster when opponents make runs behind him.
Poor positioning can give attackers valuable space inside the penalty area.
Keane also admitted that he could not understand the defender’s decision during the corner situation.
His comments were harsh, but his message was clear. Alexander-Arnold must take greater responsibility when protecting England’s goal.
Croatia Make Life Difficult for England
Keane also praised Croatia for their performance at Wembley.
He felt the visitors played much better than they had in their previous meeting with England.
Croatia created problems with their attacking movement and forced the home side to work hard.
England also faced some difficulties because several players were unavailable through injury.
As a result, Tuchel had to make changes to his defensive lineup.
Alexander-Arnold, Dan Burn, Jarell Quansah and Lewis Hall started in defence.
The new defensive combination did not always look comfortable. Croatia found opportunities to attack, particularly during the second half.
Keane believed England’s central defenders looked nervous under pressure.
However, he also acknowledged that the Three Lions managed to secure an important victory.
Thomas Tuchel Praises England’s Response
While Keane focused on the defensive mistakes, Thomas Tuchel was pleased with the final result.
The England manager believed his team deserved to win against a difficult opponent.
He admitted that England needed time to find their rhythm during the opening stages.
After the first 15 minutes, the players started to improve. They moved the ball better and created more attacking opportunities.
Tuchel also admitted that his team lost concentration towards the end of the first half.
England failed to score a second goal before the break. Croatia later took advantage of a set-piece opportunity.
However, Tuchel was happy with the way his players responded.
He praised their attitude and ability to stay focused after conceding.
The manager also felt England could have scored a third goal to make the result more comfortable.
Tuchel Defends Jarell Quansah and Dan Burn
Tuchel also highlighted the performances of Jarell Quansah and Dan Burn.
Both defenders faced a difficult challenge against Croatia’s attacking system.
The visitors used two attacking midfielders and pushed five players into their defensive line to create pressure.
This forced England’s defenders to communicate constantly and maintain their positions.
Tuchel believed Quansah and Burn handled their responsibilities well.
He also praised their work rate and willingness to support each other throughout the match.
For the England manager, their performances deserved recognition despite the pressure from Croatia.
His comments showed that he was looking at the team’s overall performance rather than focusing on individual mistakes.
England Still Have Defensive Problems to Fix
England’s 2-1 victory over Croatia was an important result. However, the match also exposed areas that need improvement.
Keane’s criticism of Alexander-Arnold highlighted one of the team’s main concerns.
His attacking qualities are clear, but he must also remain focused when defending.
England must also improve communication between their defenders, especially during set-piece situations.
Tuchel will want his players to learn from these moments before their next matches.
Alexander-Arnold now has an opportunity to respond through his performances on the pitch.
For England, winning is important, but defensive consistency will be just as vital.
If the Three Lions want to compete at the highest level, they must find the right balance between attacking quality and defensive discipline.
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