Gary Neville has called on England's players to elevate their performance to the level demonstrated by Jude Bellingham during the World Cup, emphasizing the need for improvement ahead of the knockout stages. Bellingham was instrumental in England's final group game victory, scoring and assisting to secure their top position.
Neville, speaking after England's 2-0 win against Panama, praised Bellingham as the team's most in-form and sharpest player. "The rest of them are going to have to get to his level and form quite quickly," Neville stated. He lauded Bellingham's technique and composure in scoring his goal, describing it as "absolutely brilliant."
Neville's former teammates Roy Keane and Ian Wright echoed his sentiments regarding Bellingham's impact. Wright noted Bellingham's confidence and willingness to carry the team, stating, "He wants to put the team on his shoulders and run with it. He relishes it." Keane added that Bellingham's confidence is justified by his performances, saying, "You can’t be critical of him because he backs it up."
However, Keane directed criticism towards England manager Thomas Tuchel, particularly regarding his team selection. Keane believes Tuchel "doesn't have a clue what his best XI is," citing the seven changes made across England's three group games, including five for the match against Panama. "The manager has done a lot of chopping and changing. I don’t think he has a clue what his best XI is. That’s not good," Keane commented.
Neville also expressed concerns about the team's defensive solidity, noting that England was vulnerable to counter-attacks despite their opponent's limited threat. "We’ve got to get Declan Rice back in the team. We’ve got to get the back four more solid," he urged. "They didn’t have the quality to punish us, but we are going to have to step up."