Former Manchester United player, Gary Neville, has recommended that England manager, Thomas Tuchel consider dropping Anthony Gordon and Djed Spence for their final group stage match against Panama in the 2026 tournament.
Following two rounds of matches in North America, the Three Lions currently lead their group but have not yet joined other teams that have already secured automatic qualification for the Round of 32.
They achieved a 4-2 victory over Croatia in their opening match but were held to a goalless draw by a determined Ghana in their second encounter.
In a discussion on Sky Sports, Neville expressed that Tuchel should rethink his strategy on the left side, suggesting that Morgan Rogers would be more beneficial than Gordon for England against Panama, particularly if the North American team opts for a defensive low block in Saturday’s match.
He stated, “I don’t want to criticize Anthony Gordon too harshly because I believe he is a talented player. He has faced two challenging games, but I didn’t think Marcus Rashford should be positioned on that left side.
“I genuinely believe it should be Morgan Rogers. I am in favor of Morgan Rogers playing from that left side. I think we need someone who can connect better on that flank for us.”
“Someone with greater game intelligence. Rashford and Gordon possess explosive qualities. They are the type of players you would want on the pitch for counter-attacks, but if Panama proves to be tough to break down, we will require players who can offer more creativity and subtlety in their play.
“I have a lot of respect for Djed Spence; I see that he works diligently, but I think Nico O’Reilly will likely return to the lineup. Therefore, I would prefer to see Nico O’Reilly and Morgan Rogers on that left side,” he added.
Gordon has been a starter in both of England’s matches, while Spence only started the game against Ghana.
A draw against Panama would suffice for England to advance to the Round of 32.
