Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville commented on England’s unexpected progress to the World Cup semi‑final, emphasizing that he had not anticipated such a deep run before the tournament began.
He praised Jude Bellingham’s outstanding performances, Harry Kane’s consistent goal‑scoring and Djed Spence’s ability to compete at the highest level.
Neville also highlighted the team’s reliance on Declan Rice, noting that Rice entered the tournament only partially fit and later suffered illness, which hampered England’s midfield stability.
He said that manager Thomas Tuchel faced a significant challenge without a fully fit Rice, describing the midfielder as the team’s best by a wide margin yet physically limited throughout the competition.
After the semi‑final loss to Argentina, Rice expressed pride in the squad’s achievement of a third‑place finish, calling the group’s performance the best in years and emphasizing the narrow margins that decided their exit.
He stressed the need for continued progress, noting that England has repeatedly reached later stages but has yet to secure a tournament victory.
Argentina, England’s semi‑final opponent, will meet Spain in the final after defeating France.
