Gary Neville has called on Thomas Tuchel to freshen up England’s backline by recalling both Marc Guehi and Djed Spence to his starting XI for the side’s clash with Ghana. England got their World Cup campaign off the ground with a pulsating 4-2 victory over Croatia, with Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford both finding the net after Harry Kane’s first-half brace.
Tuchel's Half-Time Reaction
Kane’s double in Dallas moved the striker level with Gary Lineker’s all-time England record of ten goals at World Cups and there were plenty of reasons to be cheerful for the Three Lions. But speaking after the final whistle, Tuchel admitted he was unhappy with his side’s display in the opening period, with the German demanding they stop ‘focussing on the result’ and ‘show the world what they can be’ during an impassioned half-time team talk.
The Euro 2024 runners-up will no doubt be looking to kick on and carry their dominant second-half display into their next clash with Ghana on Tuesday. Kane and Co wrap up their Group L campaign versus Panama on June 27.
Neville's Analysis
‘It was a very good night for Thomas Tuchel,’ former England and Manchester United right-back Neville said on Sky Sports News this afternoon. ‘Obviously the victory is the most important but I think it was a good night for him, particularly from half-time onwards. That Anthony Barry [England assistant manager] interview at half-time was very punchy and I think they obviously weren’t happy with what happened in the first half, there was maybe a little bit of lack of control, moving away from the game-plan.’
‘The way England played in that first 10 to 15 minutes of the second half, it was probably the best 10 to 15 minutes we’ve seen from any team in the tournament so far. That’s not to get carried away because I know there’s a long way to go and a game of football isn’t over 10 to 15 minutes. But I thought when England were 3-2 up, you don’t see many managers making those types of substitutions. The volume of substitutions, three of them all at once, but also putting Jude Bellingham back into central midfield alongside Elliot Anderson was a really attacking move.’
According to Neville, Tuchel displayed real ‘bravery’ with his second-half substitutions when other managers may have taken a more cautious approach. ‘He was really brave, it was a good night for him. The team in the second half were fantastic,’ he added. ‘They’ve got things they need to work on from the first half. The two goals conceded will have unnerved them a little bit and I think it will make Thomas Tuchel adjust maybe for games two and three and think slightly differently about how he plays that defence and looks at protecting them. But it was a good night overall and Thomas Tuchel had a great game, particularly from half-time onwards.’
Expected Changes for Ghana Match
Asked if he expected Tuchel to alter his starting XI for England’s next match with Ghana, Neville replied: ‘I do expect changes. Ghana have got Antoine Semenyo, they’ve got Brandon Thomas-Asante, they’ve got players who can play one-vs-one, who are mobile. So I do think Guehi coming in makes sense, and maybe Djed Spence as well. I thought Spence was excellent when he came on against Croatia.’
‘I don’t think John Stones will play every single game, every three or four days. Stones has got very good experience and I think there will be a place for him at the tournament, and there was last night, but I do think we could see Guehi come in, being someone who can handle one-vs-one situations a little bit more and the physicality of the running of the Ghanaians. I think Spence is someone again who will play a big part in this tournament, whether it’s right-back or left-back, because I think he’s like a leech when he defends. He’s very aggressive in his work and he’s got a great tenacity about him. Spence also went forward very well when he came on and nearly scored, so I do think there will be some tweaks in the defence.’
‘I was debating that with Roy [Keane] and Ian [Wright] this morning, about whether there are going to be one or two changes in the defensive line, and I actually think there might be, but Roy and Ian weren’t as sure.’
Bellingham Ends Debate
There was fierce debate over Tuchel’s favoured No.10 heading into Wednesday’s contest, with Bellingham and Morgan Rogers seemingly vying for the role. But the Real Madrid attacking midfielder appeared to put the conversation to bed – for now at least – with a masterful showing to help get his side over the line. Asked if Bellingham had effectively brought the conversation to an end, Neville responded: ‘Yes. He’s a superstar. I was watching him in the tunnel before the game and he just looked so relaxed, like he belongs, like this is something he basically does every day and very easily. It’s hard to be like that.’
‘I played for England for many years and there is pressure going into the first game of a tournament, particularly when the expectation is high on him. There’s been a lot of questions over the last 12 months about whether him and Thomas Tuchel get on, whether he’s going to be in the team. I thought he was excellent last night, I really did. Whether he was playing in that No.10 role, whether he was playing a little bit deeper towards the end, he was outstanding and arguably England’s best player.’
‘Ended the debate? I don’t want to be disrespectful because I think Morgan Rogers will play a big part in this tournament and I think he’s fantastic, but he’s slightly different to Bellingham. But there’s no doubt Bellingham has to start. I said before the tournament that he’s not a substitute, him, he’s someone who basically has to be in that first XI.’
Neville's Tournament Favourites
Neville – who represented England at two World Cups – named France as his favourites before the tournament got underway, four years on from their runners-up finish in Qatar. And the eight-time Premier League winner is sticking to his guns at this early stage of the competition given there is ‘a long way to go’ before next month’s final at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium. ‘I said France would win it before that tournament and I’m not going to change that now because of one game from each team. I don’t think we’ve seen enough yet,’ Neville explained.
‘Spain have obviously had a shock. I thought they would be getting to the latter stages of the tournament and I still think they will. It’s very, very early. We know Argentina lost in the last World Cup in the group stage and went on to win. This is a massive tournament from the point of view of games and how long there is to go. It’s not even started yet so I’m not going to change anything that I said previously right now. It’s too early in the tournament and it’s certainly too early to say that England are going to go on and win it. It was a really good start for us last night. We’ve got a really good team, we’ve got a good group of players, we’ve got an excellent manager, but there is a long way to go.’
