Jamie Carragher believes England manager Thomas Tuchel is to blame for England’s right-back woes at the World Cup.
The former England defender criticized Tuchel’s ‘bizarre decision’ to call him up. Trevor Chalobah for the injured Tino Libramento.
with Reece James and Jarrell Kwansa A major injury is suspected for Monday’s round of 16 tie against Mexico, leaving Tuchel with a headache at right-back. DeJed Spence They failed to impress in the last 32 match against DR Congo. Declan Rice The game ended in that state.
Jed Spence (left) started in England’s win over the Democratic Republic of Congo, but manager Thomas Tuchel took him off in the second half.
However, Carragher believed Rice should play in his natural midfield position and suggested a move. Ezri Konsa turn right John Stones coalition Mark Guehi In central defence.
speaking Sky Sports News“I would not start Declan Rice at right-back,” Carragher said. “I think it’s unlikely that England will go all the way in the World Cup, but I don’t think playing Rice at right-back between now and the end of the tournament is the solution.”
“I think they will leave themselves too empty in midfield. I thought Elliott Anderson, without Declan Rice in one game, had trouble dealing with counter-attacks, even against moderate opposition. So for me, Declan Rice would be there in midfield.
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Take a look at when Declan Rice filled in at right-back for Arsenal.
“Thomas Tuchel has a decision to make. I think most of the criticism Djed Spence received in the last game was a bit excessive.
“He hasn’t had his best game, but to be honest I don’t think anyone has performed well in this tournament so far other than Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane.
“Most of the problems in the last game were not about the back four, but how easy it was to get to the back four.
“We know we don’t have a lot of world-class players defensively, maybe that’s the weak part of our team, but England had a lot of problems in the first 20, 30 minutes with how easy it was to get a back four.
“A lot of work needs to be done for England. It’s not just about the right-back position, but I wouldn’t put Declan Rice there at all.”
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In the latest edition of the Lions Den podcast, Ezri Konsa praised Rice’s 10-minute performance at right-back against DR Congo.
“I think the other option might be to put Konsa at centre-back and John Stones at centre-back. He brings a bit more experience and is a top-level performer, it’s just that he hasn’t played enough football and we saw that in the first game.
“But it all goes back to Thomas Tuchel’s decisions on the right-back area. The squad he chose wasn’t right from day one and wasn’t smart after the game either.
“He chose two injury-prone right-backs. He brought in Jed Spence, another right-back who can cover the left-backs.
“But it was a really strange decision to bring in Chalobah when there was an injury in that position, because he is not a right-back, so he would be lacking.”
‘Wingers look better when they’re not playing’
Marcus Rashford (left) is one of the wingers Tuchel could play against Mexico.
Another selection dilemma facing Tuchel at Azteca is who will start on the wing.
Anthony Gordon He came off the bench to provide both assists on Harry Kane’s goal in Wednesday’s 2-1 win over DR Congo.
Marcus Rashford and Yuma Duke The substitutes inspired England’s comeback, before being replaced by Gordon and Bukayo Saka in the second half.
Carragher said of the winger issue: “You have to think about how Thomas Tuchel plays, it’s really clear now what he likes and how he sets up his team.
“He likes true wingers who hug the touchline, not put players between the lines and in the pocket, otherwise you would probably have seen Phil Foden or Cole Palmer in the squad.
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Sky Sports’ Dave Reid explains the confusion behind the scheduled kick-off time for England’s round of 16 clash with Mexico.
“So he wants a true winger who can get quick outside and link up with the number 10 and the full-backs, so I don’t know how he’s going to put Morgan Rodgers in that wide position.
“But the problem with the four wide players he has used so far is that they all look better when they are not playing.
“So whenever one of them is on the bench, it’s the best game because the guy on the pitch isn’t performing so well and you think, ‘Okay, let’s put him back in’ and I think that’s going to continue from now until the end of the tournament in England.
“I think we’ll change the flankers after an hour and ask who should play, and really none of them have done enough so far.
“In terms of the best international class, it’s probably Bukayo Saka, but he doesn’t look really fit. He doesn’t look completely fit, because we know he’s been a fantastic player for Arsenal over the last four or five years.”
