Gary Neville criticises England’s right-back situation ahead of DR Congo clash
Gary Neville has accused England of repeating an old mistake at the World Cup by leaving themselves dangerously short at right-back, insisting Thomas Tuchel should have anticipated the injury problems that have now hit his squad, reports BritPanorama.
As England prepares for Wednesday’s last-16 meeting with DR Congo, Tuchel faces a selection dilemma after injuries sidelined both of his specialist right-backs prior to the knockout stages. Reece James is out until the latter stages of the tournament due to a hamstring injury, while Tino Livramento withdrew before England’s opening match after suffering a similar setback.
The absence of both players leaves Tuchel with a decision to make: deploy Djed Spence, who has predominantly played left-back for Tottenham and was selected mainly as cover for Nico O’Reilly, or turn to central defenders Jarrel Quansah or Ezri Konsa in an unfamiliar role.
Neville contends the current situation was entirely predictable, given the recent injury history of both right-backs. The former Manchester United captain, who earned 85 caps for England, believes the team’s management has consistently undervalued the critical nature of the full-back position in high-stakes tournaments. “It’s not the first time I’ve seen England disrespect the full-back position in the last 15 to 20 years,” Neville remarked during a Sky Sports interview.
He emphasized the need for foresight, noting, “They’ve thought they can take one full-back and then someone else can fill in. That just isn’t going to work.” With the knockout stage looming, he expressed concern over England’s defensive preparation, particularly against teams with pace such as DR Congo. “Congo’s going to be tough,” Neville warned, highlighting their ability to exploit counter-attacking opportunities.
Neville suggested that Tuchel may already be considering a key role for Spence, particularly since the defender was rested during England’s final group-stage fixture. “I hope that’s because he needs to play the rest of the games,” he noted, while admitting that the squad remains “very thin on the ground.”
Putting the situation into context, Neville pointed out that with James and Livramento’s injury histories, the coaching staff should have prepared for such eventualities. “It shouldn’t have been a shock when their injuries happened,” he said, reiterating that the current lineup might not be sufficient to fend off a potentially formidable DR Congo attack. He added, “You have to make sure you don’t concede counter-attacks.”
With both James and Livramento unavailable, England will now rely on their remaining defensive depth to see through the crucial match in Atlanta, hoping Neville’s concerns do not manifest on the pitch.
Ultimately, the path ahead isn’t just about fielding a team; it’s a chess match against a savvy opponent, a reminder that in crucial moments, depth and tactical astuteness can define the outcome. And how even heroes divide opinion when the stakes are this high.
