Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira has suggested that England manager Thomas Tuchel may need to adjust his lineup after the Three Lions were held to a goalless draw by Ghana at the FIFA World Cup.
England entered the match on the back of a 4-2 victory over Croatia but struggled to break down a well-organised Ghana side in Foxborough. Despite the disappointing result, Vieira dismissed concerns that the draw represented a major setback.
“England didn’t lose the game. After the first win we expected a bit more energy, but you have to give credit to Ghana. They were well-organised, difficult to play against and dangerous on the counter-attack,” Vieira said on The Rest is Football podcast.
The former France international backed England to reach at least the semi-finals and possibly the final, describing Tuchel’s squad as one of the strongest in the tournament.
Vieira also highlighted the impact of Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka, who impressed after coming off the bench. He suggested Saka offered more attacking threat than Noni Madueke and could merit a starting role in future matches against defensively minded opponents.
Meanwhile, former England defender Micah Richards called for squad rotation against Panama, recommending opportunities for Marcus Rashford, Ollie Watkins, and Morgan Rogers while resting key players including Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham.
England face Panama on Saturday, knowing a positive result could secure qualification for the knockout stages.
