Ian Wright disagrees with player England are 'missing' and names who Gareth Southgate must use instead

Ian Wright has disagreed with Gareth Southgate's verdict on the one player that England do not have a natural replacement for at Euro 2024.

England drew 1-1 with Denmark in their second group match in Frankfurt, with Harry Kane's first half goal being ruled out by Morten Hjulmand's long-distance strike.

Viewers were critical of England's performance throughout the 90 minutes, with Southgate's choice of substitutions also questioned.

Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon were both left on the bench, while Trent Alexander-Arnold was taken off just eight minutes into the second half and replaced by Conor Gallagher.

Alexander-Arnold has started both games alongside Declan Rice, and it was the Liverpool star's position that was brought up by Southgate post-match.

He told BBC Sport: "It is an experiment, and we know that we don't have a natural replacement for a Kalvin Phillips.

"We're trying some different things and, at the moment, we're not flowing as we would like, that's for sure."

Wright, however, disagreed with Southgate's verdict when assessing the game for ITV, and pointed to other squad members that could replicate what an in-form Phillips - who is not at Euro 2024 - could bring to Southgate's side.

"Listening to Gareth, he mentioned about Kalvin Phillips, and that he's the only one who can maybe play that role," the Arsenal legend began.

"I don't believe that. I believe Adam Wharton can play it as well, I think that Kobbie Mainoo can play it as well.

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"Either Kobbie or Wharton. I'd probably pick Wharton in there, simply because he's close as I've seen, with [Spain's] Fabian Ruiz... when I've seen him at the end of the season with Palace, is his calmness.

"He's calm, he's got a pass, he's a very intelligent player. And I think he's somebody that wouldn't panic in this situation. And he's been picked in the squad."

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