Neville urges Tuchel to drop Stones and start Guehi for England's Ghana clash

Gary Neville has urged Thomas Tuchel to overhaul England’s defensive line for their World Cup group-stage meeting with Ghana, singling out Marc Guehi and Djed Spence as the players who should come in after Wednesday’s 4-2 victory over Croatia in Dallas.

England were twice pegged back in the first half against Croatia, with defensive vulnerabilities exposed before a forceful half-time intervention turned the game decisively in their favour. Neville believes those same weaknesses could be punished by Ghana’s mobile, physical attackers if left unaddressed.

“Ghana have got Antoine Semenyo, they’ve got Brandon Thomas-Asante, they’ve got players who can play one-vs-one, who are mobile,” Neville said. “So I do think Guehi coming in makes sense, and maybe Djed Spence as well.”

John Stones, who partnered Ezri Konsa at centre-back against Croatia despite an injury-disrupted season, is the man Neville would leave out. The former England defender was careful not to write Stones off entirely, but argued that Guehi’s ability to handle physical, direct opponents makes him the better fit for this specific fixture.

“I don’t think John Stones will play every single game, every three or four days,” Neville added. “Stones has got very good experience and I think there will be a place for him at the tournament, but I do think we could see Guehi come in, being someone who can handle one-vs-one situations a little bit more and the physicality of the running of the Ghanaians.”

Spence made a strong impression as a substitute against Croatia, and Neville believes the wing-back’s tenacity and athleticism make him well-suited to containing Ghana’s wide threats. “He’s like a leech when he defends. He’s very aggressive in his work and he’s got a great tenacity about him,” Neville said of the defender.

Despite the defensive concerns, Neville was effusive about England’s second-half display against Croatia, describing the opening 10 to 15 minutes after the break as the best passage of play seen from any side in the tournament so far. He credited Tuchel and assistant manager Anthony Barry for the turnaround, noting that England had drifted from their game plan before the interval.

“The way England played in that first 10 to 15 minutes of the second half, it was probably the best 10 to 15 minutes we’ve seen from any team in the tournament so far,” he said.

A second successive victory would put England in a commanding position to top their group and maintain momentum in Tuchel’s bid to end the country’s long wait for a major international trophy.