Jamie Carragher has launched a scathing attack on Thomas Tuchel’s ‘bizarre’ decision to call up Trevoh Chalobah as England grapple with a right-back crisis at the 2026 World Cup. The former Three Lions defender believes the squad selection has been flawed from the start.
Right-Back Woes Plague England
England have faced significant issues in the right-back position during the tournament. Tino Livramento withdrew due to injury, while Jarell Quansah and Reece James have also sustained problems. Djed Spence has struggled to convince, leaving Tuchel with limited options.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Carragher said: “This all just goes back to Thomas Tuchel's decisions around the right-back area. It's just not been right from day one with the squad that's been picked. It's not been clever after the event. He picked two very injury-prone players at right-back, he brought another right-back if you like, Djed Spence, but at left-back. But I think to bring Chalobah in when there were injuries in that position was a bizarre decision. He's not a right-back, so you're going to leave yourself short.”
Declan Rice at Right-Back? Carragher Says No
One potential solution is deploying midfielder Declan Rice at right-back, a role he filled late in the win against DR Congo. However, Carragher dismissed this as a long-term fix.
“No, I wouldn't start Declan Rice at right-back,” Carragher added. “Look, England have got a slim chance of going all the way in the World Cup, I don't think playing Declan Rice as the right-back from now until the end of the tournament would be the solution. To be honest, I think you'd leave yourself so empty in midfield. I thought Elliot Anderson, in the one game when Declan Rice wasn't in there, found it tough dealing with opposition's counterattacks and that was against moderate opposition as well.”
Tuchel Under Pressure Ahead of Mexico Clash
Carragher also defended Spence, saying criticism of him has been over the top. “He didn't have his best game, I must say that, but I don't think anyone has come out of this tournament so far with flying colours other than Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. I think a lot of the problems that arose in the last game were not so much the back four but how easy it was to get at the back four. We know we haven't got an abundance of world class players defensively, now that's probably the weak area of our team, but there was a lot wrong with England in that first 20 minutes and how easy it was to get at the back four.”
England face Mexico next, and Tuchel must resolve the right-back dilemma quickly to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
