England have once again disrespected the full-back position at a major tournament leaving them short of cover at right back heading into Wednesday's World Cup round-of-32 clash with DR Congo, says Gary Neville.
First-choice right back Reece James will be unavailable until well into the knockout stages of the tournament with a hamstring injury, compounding the earlier loss of his backup, Tino Livramento, who withdrew from the squad before the first game - also because of a hamstring problem.
All of which means England head coach Thomas Tuchel must now decide between Djed Spence, who has been playing left back for Tottenham and was selected in that position for this squad as cover for Nico O'Reilly, and versatile centre-backs Jarrel Quansah or Ezri Konsa for the knockout clash in Atlanta.
Neville, who played 85 times as a right back for his country, believes Tuchel should have foreseen this given James and Livramento's injury records, adding it was an issue many had predicted would happen heading into the tournament.
Meanwhile, Neville has warned England about the upcoming threat posed by DR Congo, who progressed to the knockouts as one of the eight best third-placed sides after finishing behind Colombia and Portugal in a hugely-competitive Group K.
It's not the first time I've seen England disrespect the full-back position in the last 15 to 20 years. They've thought they can take one full-back and then someone else can fill in. That just isn't going to work.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
If you're playing against Vinicius Jr in a quarter-final, or a France or Argentina winger - you're going to get turned over if you're not competent. Tuchel has got Djed Spence, who he rested the other day. I hope that's because he needs to play the rest of the games.
World Cup 2026 fixture schedule - your day-by-day guide
2026 World Cup dates, venues and expanded format
But we are very thin on the ground. Livramento and James - with their injury record over the last few years - it shouldn't have been a shock when their injuries happened. They haven't been the most robust and resilient, and I feel for them because they're very talented players and they'll be hurting.
Tuchel should have seen that. Everyone in the country could have seen that with James and Livramento.
Congo's going to be tough. You have to make sure you don't concede counter-attacks. We've conceded a few in the last few games and on another day, we would have conceded a penalty against Ghana. The one Ezri Konsa tackle, that's a penalty.
Against Panama, they didn't have quality - but they did have their moments where they countered through us. Making sure DR Congo don't have the counter-attacks will be important.
Kane & Bellingham are delivering - the other eight have question marks
We should never take for granted finishing top of our group.
These players have set such a standard over the last few years that we expect so much from them.
The performances against Ghana and Panama, and even Croatia, there were imperfections there.
There are concerns. The eight outfield players that aren't Harry Kane or Jude Bellingham have got to come together.
Kane and Bellingham are delivering, but the other eight have question marks over them in respect of injuries, form and who should be playing.
Think about how those eight players for Argentina and how they serve Alvarez and Messi. Those eight players for England have now got to come together and think about how they serve Bellingham and Kane so that they can go and win us the matches.
I've never seen players find their rhythms in World Cups.
Saka is an absolute gem. He's a star and a shining light and has been for five or six years playing for Arsenal and England. On the pitch, off the pitch, he's been exemplary. He is amazing and I love him to bits.
But right now, he looks like a player who has run himself into the ground. He's started to pick up a few injuries and he hasn't got that sharpness right now.
Declan Rice is similar. They have run through brick walls for Arsenal for three years trying to win the Premier League title. On top of that they got to a Champions league final. I have seen this before where players have not been quite right coming into a tournament. It's very difficult. It's not pre-season, it's a World Cup and players are at their peak physical fitness.
It's very difficult to get it back at this point if you haven't got it. What I would do now is play players who are 100 per cent fit. You might then be able to use Saka for 20 or 30 minutes at the end of games so he's not having to play 90.
Tuchel is managing Rice's minutes now, there's the issues at right back and so there are plates Tuchel is spinning right now, more than he'd like at this point in the tournament.
If we have to rest Rice in another game, he's got a real problem.
Rice is a player you play every single week. You don't even think about it, he's number one on the team sheet.
He's the engine room of Arsenal and of the England team.
When he was taken off at 3-2 in the Croatia game and people were saying he was just having his minutes managed, I didn't believe it for a second.
You do not take Rice off at 3-2 against Croatia in the opening game of the tournament unless there is a problem.
So, he has got a problem. The fact he was left out of the third game against Panama confirms that.
He's managing stuff and there is a slight calf problem as well. Don't take a risk with him in this game. Be brave and I think Tuchel is just that. He knows what he is doing.
You can potentially get past DR Congo without Rice so if he is not quite right, I would give him another few days off.
However, the fitness of Rice and Saka is a worry. They are players you would want fit and firing.
That's the big positive. We have a great goalscorer in Harry Kane and we've got Jude Bellingham, who has turned up.
He is the one player that is playing at the level that you'd say is an elite level. He looks fit, he looks sharp, strong and he is taking responsibility on and off the pitch.
Before the tournament, many of us were saying he's a superstar and he's a player you can't really have a debate around, and obviously the last 12 months or so has been quite turbulent with him around England. He'd been left out of squads and there was a lot of noise, but it has completely gone now.
He's fantastic and he demonstrated against Panama a different side to his game.
He was the best England player in the first half when it was a bit tougher and that's how you can assess players. When it is tough in the game, who are the players that show up. He is showing up.
Bellingham and Kane are the shining lights. Get them the ball as many times as possible in the last third and the box, and we've got a real chance of scoring goals in the tournament.
Harry Kane is as reliable as you can get. In football and in life, you want reliability. You want players who you know are going to deliver for you.
I can see why Barcelona would want him. I can see why any club in the world would want him that is trying to win trophies at an elite level.
I describe him as gold. He's incredible and you know exactly what you are going to get.
England also know exactly what they are going to get and I'm sure he will be fit and firing for the knockout phase.
This is where the tournament starts for real. All the best teams are through. It matters now and every chance you miss or every mistake you make you know it is potentially going to cost you.
Tuchel has said England will step up, and we know Kane will step up.
Play Super 6! Play Super 6 for a chance to win £250k! Enter for free.
Sign up for Sky Sports push notifications Upgrade to Sky Sports to watch every minute of end of season X Facebook TikTok Instagram YouTube WhatsApp Partners Sky Bet Super 6 TEAMtalk.com Football365.com Sky Sports Channels Sky Sports Main Event Sky Sports Premier League Sky Sports Football Sky Sports Cricket Sky Sports Golf Sky Sports F1 Sky Sports Tennis Sky Sports Action Sky Sports News Sky Sports+ Sky Sports Racing Sky Sports Mix More Sky Sites Sky.com Sky News Sky Go Sky Group Sky For Businesses Sky Partnerships Sky Impact Store Locator Advertise With Us Terms & Conditions Privacy & Cookies Notice Privacy Options Accessibility Information Contact Us © 2026 Sky UK
Sources: Sky Sports
