Tuchel's England Conundrum: The Search Continues
The Three Lions have navigated the World Cup group stage with flying colours, claiming top spot, but a nagging concern remains – according to former captain Alan Shearer. Manager Thomas Tuchel is still on a mission to find his dream team, and it's the wide areas that are causing him the most headaches.
Shearer reckons England's constant rotation in key positions means they're no closer to discovering their best XI. The stats tell the story: nine different full-back and winger combinations have been tried out across 270 minutes of action, involving eight different players – a clear sign that Tuchel is still scratching his head over finding the perfect balance.
Yes, injuries have played their part in Tuchel's selection conundrum, with Reece James and Jarell Quansah sidelined at right-back, and Bukayo Saka not firing on all cylinders. But Shearer believes that's only part of the problem – the lack of consistency down the wings is a major concern.
Shearer credits England's top players for delivering in crucial moments: Elliot Anderson was 'absolutely superb' against Panama, while Jude Bellingham stole the show and Harry Kane continued his goal-scoring form. The spine of the team, including Jordan Pickford and Declan Rice, can be relied upon – but the wide areas remain a cause for worry.
Now, as England gear up to face DR Congo in Atlanta on Wednesday, Shearer expects more of the same defensive approach seen from Ghana and Panama. He's calling for England to find ways to break down well-organised defences, suggesting that improving cross quality and angles, particularly from wide areas, could be the key.
Source: Alan Shearer