Gary Neville blasts Southgate’s tactics ‘should be illegal’ and demands THREE England subs against Slovakia
GARY NEVILLE slammed Gareth Southgate and demanded three substitutions were made at half-time against Slovakia.
England put in another poor performance in the opening 45 minutes and went in at the break 1-0 down after Ivan Schranz’s strike.
Neville was furious alongside fellow ITV pundits Roy Keane and Ian Wright as they hit out at Southgate‘s tactics and team selection.
With the ex-England right-back saying a change out wide was needed, with Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon coming on.
And Neville wanted Trent Alexander-Arnold to replace Kieran Trippier, so Kyle Walker could switch flanks to left-back.
Neville ranted: “He’s tried minimum interference but I was sat on a bench in Nice eight years ago when England played Iceland – this has got Iceland vibes written all over it.
“It’s now or never for Gareth. He’s got to interfere and rip up the script he’s had all tournament, we’ve watched this now for three-and-a-half games.
“We tried to be really positive and thinking this would be the game today that England would turn.
“He’s now got to twist. I don’t think it’s a case of one substitute, I think he’s got to get three on the pitch.
“I think we’ve got to see Cole Palmer, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Anthony Gordon. He’s got to shift the whole narrative around this game.
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“That is not changing unless he does something right now.”
Neville continued: “I would probably switch Kyle Walker over – that be the first.
“Then, after ten minutes if it doesn’t change, I’d make another two.
“Gordon will give you a runner and we know Palmer is in better form at this moment in time that the players that are out on that pitch.
“Trent Alexander-Arnold – it’s illegal that lad is not playing football in any game like this for England.
“We cannot have Walker and Trippier and left and right-back when we are on the ball most of the time when that is the kid that is the best football player we’ve ever seen at right-back in this country.
“He’s got to be on the pitch.”
Despite their fury, Southgate did not make any changes at the break.
Phil Foden put the ball in the back of the net just six minutes after the restart – but he was offside.
And just after the hour mark, Palmer was finally subbed on for Trippier and Bukayo Saka was moved to left-back.
England's five-point penalty shootout plan
EXPERT football psychologist Professor Geir Jordet has told Gareth Southgate and his players what they can do to give themselves the best chance of victory in any shootouts.
And he has even thrown in a rogue, bold suggestion for the Three Lions manager…
1. START PLANNING LAST YEAR
“It’s about planning for the opposition’s penalty takers but also ‘how do we win the psychological game against each opponent?’
2. SMART SOUTHGATE LEADERSHIP
“Southgate will have two minutes to influence his players as effectively as possible, show he has a plan and get confidence across.”
3. DICTATE AS A TEAM
“A shootout is really a team performance. Have the goalkeeper walk with the penalty taker into the penalty area to basically create a two-versus-one against the other goalkeeper. Dominate the centre circle, support the players who missed.”
4. ‘BULLETPROOF’ INDIVIDUAL ROUTINES
“Have really good, individualised and rehearsed pre-shot routines that are bulletproof and polished so they’re more likely to be able to resist the stress and more likely to score.”
5. SHOOT YOUR SHOT
“Practise the shot itself, trying to simulate penalty shootouts in training. Even recreating 20 per cent of a Euros final penalty shootout is going to have a benefit for your performance.”
AND A JOR DROPPING IDEA…
Jordan Pickford is the No1 but Dean Henderson actually has a far better penalty record – saving 8/22 (36 per cent) compared to Pickford’s 8/62 (13 per cent).
Jordet said: “One could consider making a late substitution for a penalty shootout. I doubt that they dare to do it in case it fails and the pressure is even higher but it would be a very ballsy move.”