Time To Drop Them Gary Neville Urges Tuchel To Bench 2 England Players

Time to drop them Gary Neville urges Tuchel to bench 2 England players Former Manchester United defender and England legend Gary Neville has called on England manager Thomas Tuchel to make bold selection changes ahead of their crucial World Cup group-stage match against Panama. Neville specifically urged Tuchel to drop Anthony Gordon and Djed Spence, arguing that England need more creativity and tactical balance on the left side of the pitch.

England currently sit in a strong position in their group following a 4 2 win over Croatia and a 0–0 draw against Ghana, but they are still yet to fully convince in attack despite their positive results. Speaking during punditry analysis, Neville explained that while England possess explosive attacking options, certain players may struggle against teams that defend deep and compact. He suggested that Morgan Rogers should replace Gordon to offer more intelligent link-up play in tight spaces, especially when breaking down defensive blocks. Neville said he was not questioning the effort of the players, but insisted that tactical flexibility is now required if England are to progress further in the tournament. On the defensive side, he also expressed preference for Nico O’Reilly to return to the starting lineup, replacing Djed Spence, in order to strengthen England’s structure and improve balance in build-up play. Neville warned that Panama could present a low-block challenge similar to Ghana, meaning England must prioritise control and creativity over pace and direct counter-attacking. He added that squad decisions at this stage of the tournament could determine whether England progress comfortably or struggle in the knockout rounds. Under Tuchel, England have shown moments of promise but remain inconsistent in the final third. Despite strong individual talent, analysts continue to debate the best combination to unlock teams that defend deep.

The upcoming fixture against Panama is now seen as a key test of Tuchel’s tactical decisions and squad rotation strategy.