Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold’s dreams of representing England at the World Cup came true when he was named in Gareth Southgate’s 23-man squad but the Reds fullback revealed that it was Jurgen Klopp who broke the news to him in his inimitable manner.
“I’m honoured, excited and feeling really proud,” the 19-year-old fullback was quoted as saying by the club website.
The 5’9 Liverpool Academy graduate has had an outstanding 2017-18 season, consistently starting for Klopp, but his place in Southgate’s squad was far from confirmed.
“It was an unbelievable moment to find out I was going to go to the World Cup, especially at a young age. It’s probably capped off a really good season for me.”
The Three Lions won’t have too many representatives from Merseyside on the plane Russia, with Reds skipper Jordan Henderson the only other Liverpool player in the squad.
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“I found out this morning, just before we came out to Marbella. The manager came and spoke to me just as we were getting on the plane,” Alexander-Arnold revealed as he continued, “He asked me if I knew anything about the squad or anything yet. I said, ‘no’ and he said, ‘Have you got anything planned around the time of the World Cup?’ I was like, ‘No, no holidays or anything…”
Alexander-Arnold, who is still uncapped at the senior level with the Three Lions, will hope that memories of his first World Cup are mostly positive.
“He said to me, ‘OK, good… You’re in the squad!’ It was a really proud moment. On England’s behalf, it was nice of them to let the manager tell me.”
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England have been drawn in Group G, along with Belgium, Tunisia and Panama.
The World Cup kicks off on June 14, but Alexander-Arnold and Co will start their campaign on June 18 when they take on African side Tunisia at the Volgograd Arena.
Liverpool’s Premier League season is over as they finished in fourth place, but they do have the small matter of the UEFA Champions League final on the horizon.
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Currently on a warm-weather training camp in Marbella, Spain, Jurgen Klopp’s men are scheduled to remain in the Iberian nation for a total of four days before going back home.
The Champions league final, which sees the Merseysiders take on the mighty Real Madrid, kicks off on May 26 in Kiev.