Lineker warns Rice his England starting spot is no longer guaranteed after Scott's debut

Gary Lineker has warned Declan Rice that his status as England’s first-choice midfielder is no longer a certainty, following Alex Scott’s assured debut in the Three Lions’ 7-0 demolition of Croatia in Rijeka on Saturday.

Rice, who has been a near-automatic starter under Thomas Tuchel, withdrew from the squad with an injury expected to keep him sidelined for two months, ruling him out of Tuesday’s fixture against Czechia. His absence handed Scott, 23, a first senior start — and the Bournemouth midfielder took full advantage.

“What an assured performance we saw from Alex Scott,” Lineker said on The Rest is Football podcast. “He was a big part of the game. If you look at the great teams that win tournaments, they have control in games and I think Alex Scott is a player we haven’t necessarily seen within that England midfield.”

Lineker was careful to contextualise the performance — Croatia did not play well on the night — but argued that Scott’s qualities represent something genuinely different from what Rice offers. “Declan Rice has his strengths and is brilliant with his delivery and work-rate, but there’s a calmness and control to Scott. He never gives the ball away and he’s always scanning.”

The former England striker went further, suggesting Tuchel now has a real decision to make. “I wonder what Thomas Tuchel is going to do because Alex Scott has that kind of control and Declan Rice’s a totally different player. Does it give him a different option now and does it mean, perhaps, that Declan’s place is not always assured? Maybe he will want to play slightly differently with someone like Alex Scott.”

Tuchel himself was effusive in his praise after the Croatia win. “First start and what a start, what a performance,” the England head coach said. “He is so smooth on the ball, his decision making is at the highest level. He plays with so much confidence. He is so active, so confident. The work rate off the ball. He is just the complete package.”

Tuchel had already shown faith in Scott by calling him up for England’s pre-World Cup camp in June, but Saturday’s display marked his first competitive start. Rice, meanwhile, remains a central figure in Tuchel’s plans — the Arsenal midfielder was fielded even when not fully fit during the World Cup — but Scott’s emergence has given England’s manager a genuine alternative in the centre of the pitch.