Gary Neville has urged England manager Thomas Tuchel not to overreact after the goalless draw against Ghana, but recommends two changes for the final World Cup group game against Panama: dropping Anthony Gordon for Morgan Rogers on the left flank and reinstating Nico O'Reilly at left-back over Djed Spence.
England's World Cup campaign so far
England started the tournament impressively with a 4-2 win over Croatia, the 2018 runners-up and 2022 semi-finalists. However, Tuchel's side struggled to break down a spirited Ghana team in a 0-0 draw, failing to create clear chances against a low block. Despite the setback, England remain top of Group L and in pole position to qualify for the knockout stages.
Neville's analysis of the Ghana game
Speaking to Sky Sports, Neville compared England's situation to top clubs facing deep defences. 'All the top teams have to do this,' he said. 'Manchester City under Pep Guardiola have spent probably 90 per cent of their games in the last 10 years, camped in on the edge of the opposition box. At Manchester United when we were playing, when teams came back to Old Trafford and they sat deep, it's really difficult to break down teams sometimes.'
Neville suggested England should learn from the Ghana game by putting more crosses into the box and getting more bodies forward earlier. 'That's not saying throw the kitchen sink at it from minute five, but that's probably just maybe being a little bit more expressive, taking a few more risks with bodies in the box and making sure our set pieces are better,' he added.
Two changes Neville wants against Panama
With England needing a positive result to finish top of Group L, Tuchel is unlikely to make wholesale changes. But Neville believes the left flank needs rethinking. 'I don't want to pile on to Anthony Gordon because I think he's a really good player. He's had two difficult games, but I didn't think that Marcus Rashford should come on on that left-hand side. I actually thought it should be Morgan Rogers,' Neville said.
He explained his preference for Rogers over Gordon or Rashford: 'I think someone who can just sort of connect on that left-hand side a little bit better for us. Someone who's got a little bit more game intelligence. Rashford and Gordon are explosive. They're the players that, if you're counter-attacking, you'd want them on the pitch, but if Panama are going to be very difficult to break down, you're going to need players with a little bit more invention, more subtlety. I think that's Rogers or Eze there on that left-hand side, I don't think it's a Gordon or Rashford argument for me.'
Left-back change: O'Reilly for Spence
Neville also wants to see Nico O'Reilly return at left-back. 'I like Djed Spence, I've got a lot of time for him. I can see that he sort of works hard, but I think Nico O'Reilly will probably come back in. So I'd like to see Nico O'Reilly and Morgan Rogers off that left-hand side. The rest of the team, I'm pretty comfortable leaving it as it is. I don't think you should throw the baby out with the bathwater just because you're not able to break Ghana down,' he said.
England's World Cup ambitions
England are aiming to win the World Cup for the first time since 1966, having come close under previous boss Sir Gareth Southgate, who led them to back-to-back European Championship finals, a World Cup semi-final in 2018, and a quarter-final in 2022.
