Wright urges Tuchel to unleash Toney as England stall at 0-0 against Panama

England entered half-time at 0-0 against Panama at the 2026 World Cup, prompting Ian Wright and Gary Neville to publicly urge head coach Thomas Tuchel to shake up his attack — with Ivan Toney the name on both pundits’ lips.

The Three Lions have now gone 135 minutes without a goal since their opening-group victory over Croatia, averaging a meagre 0.06 expected goals per shot across 28 attempts in that stretch. Against Panama, they have again struggled to break down a disciplined low-block, with pundits and England staff alike calling for patience while high-quality chances remain scarce.

“I’d like to see someone like Ivan Toney,” Wright said during the half-time interval. “We need to hold the ball up there, do more than just putting it in [wildly].”

Neville echoed the sentiment, pointing to a structural problem that has defined England’s tournament so far. “We are struggling badly to break them down,” he admitted. “He may have to play with two strikers, Toney and Kane, after half-time.” Neville also noted that Tuchel’s side appears to have been set up to face expansive opponents rather than teams willing to defend deep and play on the counter.

England currently sit second in Group L. Croatia, their opening-game opponents, lead the group after going 1-0 up against Ghana in the parallel fixture, putting them in pole position to finish top. A draw would leave England’s qualification path more complicated, adding urgency to whatever adjustments Tuchel makes in the second half.

With Harry Kane yet to find his best form in the tournament and the team lacking a focal point to relieve pressure and retain possession in advanced areas, the case for Toney — a physical, hold-up striker — has grown louder with every fruitless attack.