Manchester United icon Paul Scholes has controversially advised England manager Thomas Tuchel to consider dropping midfielder Declan Rice for the upcoming World Cup knockout stages.
Scholes believes England's current overly cautious style, particularly in the midfield engine room, is a significant impediment to their aspirations of reaching the elite level occupied by global powerhouses like France and Argentina.
Despite England successfully navigating their group and securing top spot, Scholes expressed dissatisfaction with their overall performances, highlighting a perceived lack of attacking dynamism and progressive play.
He specifically targeted Rice, arguing that while the West Ham captain is a competent player, he does not contribute sufficient forward momentum or incisiveness to break down resilient defenses.
Scholes drew a parallel to Rice's club situation at Arsenal, suggesting that his role there, while defensively sound, has struggled to foster a seamless link-up with creative midfielders like Martin Odegaard, a pattern he fears could be replicated for England.
Instead, Scholes champions the inclusion of Elliot Anderson, a player he believes possesses the passing range and vision to unlock defenses and offer more progressive passing options from deeper positions.
However, this perspective has met with disagreement from former teammate Nicky Butt, who staunchly defends Rice's importance to the England setup.
Butt acknowledged the tactical debate surrounding the optimal number of defensive midfielders but insisted that Rice's undeniable quality makes him an essential component of the team, regardless of the presence of other midfield talents like Anderson, who is reportedly nearing a high-profile transfer to Manchester City.
