Gareth Southgate shows exactly what he thinks of Joe Gomez with Luke Shaw decision

While the quality of the European Championship can be questioned compared to the elite levels of the club game, the competition in Germany has largely been entertaining. That is, aside from watching England .

Gareth Southgate's side has managed, as ever, to bore everyone watching on every occasion. Sure, Jude Bellingham scored an overhead kick in the last round, but few could argue that the Three Lions deserved to progress.

In that sense, it is a blessing for Liverpool that Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez have not been involved. Neither of the Reds duo can be tarred by the England brush this summer — when the former has played, he was used out of position.

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In the case of Gomez, though, there should be a question mark about why he has even gone to the tournament. Kieran Trippier had a poor season for Newcastle United but retained his place in the side but kept his spot at left-back. Against Switzerland, Luke Shaw, who hasn't played since February because of injury, was rushed back in as a substitute.

Gomez spent most of last season playing — and excelling — for Liverpool on the left side of Jurgen Klopp's defense. And yet, Southgate showed no suggestion that he was ever thinking of playing Gomez there.

Even when Trippier's one-sidedness was a clear issue and Shaw wasn't able to be involved, the Liverpool man was overlooked. Bukayo Saka was even spoken about as a possible option to play there ahead of him and the Arsenal man ended up playing as a wing-back.

Gomez would be forgiven for wondering exactly what would have had to happen for him to find his way onto the field. Defensively is where England is weakest (though the misfiring attack has given it a run for its money over the last few weeks) and yet a player who has vast experience playing for a side as good as Liverpool never got close enough for a sniff.

It is unlikely that Southgate will remain as England boss beyond this tournament. But if he does, the ignoring of Gomez as an option will only become even more bizarre the longer it goes on.