England face Panama this weekend with a spot in the knockouts already secure but they’ll be looking to finish the group strongly.
A win and a draw in their opening two games has been enough for Thomas Tuchel’s side and now the German coach faces some big selection calls.
Some of those calls lie within his Arsenal contingent. Declan Rice, Noni Madueke, Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze have all played some part already, albeit Rice and Madueke more than the others.
However, according to former England striker Jamie Vardy, it’s for Tuchel to give one of those players a well earned rest.
Arsenal fans…What should Thomas Tuchel do with Declan Rice in the next two games?
Jamie Vardy tells Thomas Tuchel to drop Declan Rice for England v Panama
Jamie Vardy is more than experienced enough to know about managing minutes and ensuring he gets the best from himself.
Approaching 40, Vardy is still going strong but along the way, he has had to manage a number of injuries.
Now, he believes it’s time for England to give key man Rice a rest in midfield.
“Definitely change the wingers. If Saka is carrying a knock, then surely there’s no issue with starting him and giving him a set amount of time, maybe half time or whatever. If I’m honest, I think you need to give Rice a rest,” Vardy admitted on The Utter Woke Nonsense podcast.
“I think he needs it. He’s had a massive season. There’s been a bit out that he’s got some nerve issues in his hamstring and stuff.
“Why risk making it a hundred times worse to the point where he might not be able to be involved in any other games later on?”
With Rice clearly one of Tuchel’s trusted generals in this current squad, it will be interesting if he does take the route he has with Saka and gives him some time off the field.
Clearly, Rice is going to be vital if England are to progress further in this World Cup.
However, any XI the Three Lions put out against Panama should be good enough to win.
England have taken players like Kobbie Mainoo and Jordan Henderson for situations like this. Indeed, it would be the ideal time to throw Mainoo into the mix.
The Man United man proved he can do it in Euro 2024 and as Vardy suggests here, it just gives Rice that extra bit of recovery.
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