Newcastle

Newcastle star reveals the truth, Shearer and Trippier involved

Published

5 months ago

June 17, 2024

Kieran Trippier has admitted that ‘you’ve got to manage games sometimes’ after the Newcastle United defender went down with ‘cramp’ in the closing stages of England’s win against Serbia.

Trippier dropped to the turf in the 78th minute of England’s Euro 2024 opener in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday night. England were 1-0 up, courtesy of a goal from Jude Bellingham in the first half, and Harry Kane had just come mighty close to doubling the Three Lions’ lead after his header was palmed onto the underside of the crossbar.

However, the game was becoming a little nervy for England, who were struggling to keep hold of the ball. In fact, before Trippier received treatment, Phil Foden’s sloppy misplaced pass inadvertently launched a Serbia counter-attack.

Trippier raised his hand in the air, signalling he had an issue, as Strahinja Pavlovic galloped forward and hit an overhit cross that the Newcastle defender comfortably dealt with. Trippier threw his arm up once again just a few seconds later and Kyle Walker eventually booted the ball out of play.

The game was paused for the best part of two minutes and Alan Shearer, who was on co-commentary for the BBC, remarked that he had ‘seen that somewhere before’ to take the ‘sting out of the game’. The break in play allowed England players to go over the touchline to receive instructions while Trippier went off the pitch with the physio, took an energy gel and stretched.

There were a couple of nervy moments to come after play resumed – not least Dusan Vlahovic’s stunning effort that was tipped over by Jordan Pickford – but England got over the line as Trippier completed his first 90 minutes since February.

“I got cramp and, sometimes, you need to manage games,” the 33-year-old smiled. “It was cramp and you’ve got to manage games sometimes.”

Trippier previously told ChronicleLive that he ‘learned a lot’ from former Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone about moments in games where ‘you have to be clever and know when to slow the game down if the opposition is on top’. “I wouldn’t say it’s cheating,” he insisted. “It’s about trying to win a football match.”