Kieran Trippier not worried about England's 2-1 defeat against Spain

Sport360 staff 13:52 09/09/2018
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  • Kieran Trippier is convinced England will bounce back

    Kieran Trippier insists there should be no concern surrounding the England side as Nations League defeat to Spain marked a third loss in succession.

    The Three Lions took to the field at Wembley on Saturday night and were given a rousing reception for their first match since reaching the World Cup semi-finals in the summer.

    But, despite Marcus Rashford’s early opener, Gareth Southgate’s side were beaten 2-1 in a match somewhat overshadowed by what could have proved a serious injury to defender Luke Shaw.

    The feel-good factor of making it to the final four in Russia was evident in and around the stadium and Trippier does not feel there is any reason to hit the panic button as semi-final defeat to Croatia and a loss to Belgium in the third-place play-off was followed up by another reverse on England’s return.

    “It is not a concern,” the Tottenham full-back said.

    “We are building and that is all we can do, play against these teams. We want to test ourselves against the best and certainly tonight we put up a fight.

    “We knew it was going to be a difficult game, these are the teams we want to play against.

    “We started bright and got the early goal and then to concede straight away after was disappointing.

    “They passed it around very well in the first-half, we talked about that coming out into the second.

    “I thought we played much better in the second half, we got it down and we played and we were unlucky not to come out with a draw.”

    Saul Niguez levelled for Spain moments after Rashford had put England in front with Rodrigo scoring the winning goal later in the first half.

    But late substitute Danny Welbeck saw a last-gasp equaliser controversially chalked off as the referee deemed the Arsenal man had fouled David De Gea before turning the ball home.

    “From my angle I had a very good view of it,” added Trippier.

    “The ball just went up in the air and Welbs just crouched down and De Gea just came over the top of him.

    “The ref gave a foul and personally I don’t understand how it was a foul but these decisions happen and you have just got to move on.”

    Welbeck himself was also at a loss to explain why his strike had been ruled out.

    “I don’t think I did too much wrong, it is the referee’s decision at the end of the day,” he said.

    “Me and the defenders were challenging for the ball. I don’t even think I touched David.

    “He just dropped it on my head and once the ball dropped I was just trying to put the ball in the back of the net, I don’t know what the referee gave a foul for.”

    Welbeck’s disallowed strike came deep into nine minutes of stoppage time, the majority of which was amassed as Shaw received treatment after a nasty clash with Dani Carvajal at the start of the second half.

    The Manchester United defender, starting his first England game since September 2015 – just a week before he suffered a double fracture which could have cost him his right leg – was taken off on a stretcher with an oxygen mask after hitting his head.

    He was later walking and talking in the dressing room, with Trippier admitting the incident looked worrying at first sight.

    “As a team you don’t want it, to any player you don’t want the situation to happen,” he said.

    “I was praying that he was alright and he seems a lot better, it seems like he has come round a lot more now which is very good news – all the boys just let him have his own space and we will all see how he is later on tomorrow.”

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