Paul Scholes Advocates for Tactical Shift in England's World Cup Strategy

Scholes Calls for Change in England's Midfield

In a recent discussion, Manchester United icon Paul Scholes has encouraged England's head coach Thomas Tuchel to consider a significant tactical adjustment by leaving Declan Rice out of the lineup for the upcoming FIFA World Cup knockout stages. Scholes believes that a more aggressive strategy is essential for England to effectively challenge top teams like France and Argentina.

Although England secured the top position in Group L with seven points, Scholes feels that the team's performance has not been convincing. The Three Lions kicked off their campaign with a 4-2 victory over Croatia, but followed it up with a goalless draw against Ghana and a lackluster 2-0 win over Panama, which highlighted a deficiency in their attacking play.

The former midfielder emphasized the need for a more daring midfield approach if England aims to compete with the tournament's elite. On The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Scholes stated, "In the next match, England shouldn't rely on two defensive midfielders. No offense to Congo, but in such matches, it's better to field as many attackers as possible. It should be a direct choice between Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson, and I would lean towards Anderson."

He further elaborated, "Anderson tends to push the ball forward more effectively. While Rice is undoubtedly a talented player and a strong leader, his performance at Arsenal last season wasn't stellar either. He struggled to involve [Martin] Odegaard in the game, which might have carried over to the national team. I don't see that happening with Anderson."

Rice, who was sidelined during England's last group match against Panama due to a calf injury, is anticipated to make his return to the starting lineup for the Round of 32 match against DR Congo.