Gary Neville Calls on Thomas Tuchel to Drop Anthony Gordon and Djed Spence for England’s World Cup Decider Against Panama

Gary Neville has publicly called on England head coach Thomas Tuchel to make two personnel changes ahead of the Three Lions’ final Group B fixture against Panama at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, singling out Anthony Gordon and Djed Spence as the players who should make way.

Speaking on Sky Sports on 26 June 2026, the former Manchester United and England right-back argued that Morgan Rogers and Nico O’Reilly should be handed starts on the left flank, particularly if Panama adopt a defensive, low-block structure against Tuchel’s side.

“I don’t want to criticise Anthony Gordon too harshly because I believe he is a talented player,” Neville said. “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.”

Neville elaborated on his reasoning, drawing a distinction between players suited to open, counter-attacking football and those capable of unlocking a compact defensive shape. “I am in favour of Morgan Rogers playing from that left side. I think we need someone who can connect better on that flank for us,” he said. “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.”

On the full-back position, Neville was equally direct: “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.”

England currently lead Group B following two matches — a 4-2 victory over Croatia and a 0-0 draw against Ghana — but have not yet confirmed their place in the knockout stage. Gordon has featured in both games from the start, with his performance against Ghana drawing particular criticism. Spence, by contrast, started only the Ghana fixture.

The match against Panama carries added weight given England’s failure to close out qualification despite their early group lead. A point or a win would be sufficient to progress, though the nature of the performance is also likely to come under scrutiny given the underwhelming display against Ghana.

Neville’s comments reflect a broader debate around England’s attacking options on the left side of the pitch. Rogers, who has been in strong club form, has been put forward by several pundits as a more technically rounded option in tight spaces, while O’Reilly’s ability to overlap and combine has been cited as a better fit alongside him than Spence’s more direct style.

Tuchel’s selections ahead of the Panama fixture will be closely watched, with the England squad aware that avoiding a repeat of the Ghana stalemate is essential if they are to head into the Round of 16 with momentum.