Allardyce highlights key flaws in Tuchel’s England ahead of Mexico clash
Former England boss Sam Allardyce has highlighted a major flaw in Thomas Tuchel’s thinking as the Three Lions prepare to face Mexico on Monday, reports BritPanorama.
Speaking to GB News, the veteran manager expressed concern over defensive vulnerabilities ahead of the crucial game. England fans endured a nail-biting contest against the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), who stunned the Three Lions with a 1-0 lead for much of the game before heroics from captain Harry Kane.
“The team is shaky defensively,” Allardyce said, admitting he had not expected England to struggle at the back under Tuchel. He noted a particular issue at right-back, which he believes is a bigger problem than previous tournaments have presented.
Injuries to Reece James and Jarell Quansah left Tuchel’s backline threadbare against the African nation. Allardyce criticized Tuchel’s squad selection, stating, “If I had to criticise Thomas for anything from a football point of view, it would just be squad selection.”
Allardyce pointed out the omission of experienced players such as Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, and Trent Alexander-Arnold. “Harry Maguire took Man United from 15th to third. Luke Shaw played nearly every game last season. Trent Alexander-Arnold has been playing for Real Madrid, getting even more international experience,” he said, emphasizing their importance.
While praising Harry Kane as “the king,” Allardyce insisted that other players must elevate their performances. “We need others to step up. Particularly defensively, we need to be locked out and make sure when we finish the 90 minutes, we haven’t conceded a goal,” he stated.
Allardyce stressed that a solid defensive display would be essential for victory against Mexico, adding, “I think that’s going to be very, very important because then we would probably win that game 1-0.” The Three Lions are set to face Mexico at the infamous Azteca Stadium at 1am UK time. Meanwhile, England fans continue to be left in limbo as talks over the kick-off time remain ongoing due to bad weather, following a dramatic back-and-forth last night.
This looming match is rife with pressure, both for Tuchel’s managerial acumen and the team’s cohesiveness defensively. As the clock ticks down, the question remains: can this squad find the unity needed to conquer the challenges ahead?
