"He picked the wrong team," Paul Scholes told football365.com. The former Manchester United midfielder's critique cuts straight to the heart of England's selection puzzle after two group games.

The context is stark. England beat Ghana 0-0 after an opening 4-2 victory over Croatia. The early win bought goodwill, but the goalless second outing has switched the narrative from celebration to doubt. Panama awaits on Saturday, and Scholes is not the only ex-player thinking Thomas Tuchel got his team selection wrong.

Scholes' main target is Jude Bellingham's position. "The midfield just isn't right. In a game like that when you are going to have a lot of the ball, you do not need Rice and Anderson together," he said. His diagnosis goes deeper: "Bellingham is not a No.10. He is a No.8 who can run. A No.10 gets your team playing really good football. That's not Bellingham."

The argument is tactical, not personal. Bellingham has scored once across 2 World Cup appearances (153 minutes), with a 7.05 rating that shows he is performing. Scholes' point is about fit: England need a true playmaker at 10, not a runner who thrives deeper.

Gary Neville is pushing a different fix. While Scholes targets the centre, Neville is focused on the left. "I do not want to pile on to Anthony Gordon because I think he's a really good player. But I did not think that Marcus Rashford should come on. I actually thought it should be Morgan Rogers," he said.

Bellingham's role under scrutiny

Neville's reasoning hinges on breaking down low blocks. "If Panama are going to be very difficult to break down, you are going to need players with a little bit more invention, a little bit more subtlety in the game," he told Sky Sports. He is explicit about his solution: "I would like to see Nico O'Reilly and Morgan Rogers off that left-hand side."

Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson have been Tuchel's midfield pairing. Rice rated 6.9 against Ghana—solid, not dominant. Anderson showed improvement from his 7.2 against Croatia, dropping to 6.71 against Ghana. That dip suggests the midfield is still finding its rhythm.

The left-side debate

Anthony Gordon managed 6.2 against Ghana. Marcus Rashford came off the bench for 7.2. Morgan Rogers also rated 6.9 in a recent appearance. On paper, Rogers offers technical balance, and Neville's preference for left-back Nico O'Reilly aligns with a shift toward creativity over width.

Panama will sit deep. How Tuchel responds—whether he drops Bellingham into the 8, pivots the left side toward Rogers, or holds his line—will define England's chances of breaking through.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →