England Must Drop Rice To Win World Cup, Says Scholes

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has called on England manager Thomas Tuchel to drop Declan Rice from the starting lineup for the Three Lions’ World Cup round of 32 clash against DR Congo, arguing that a more aggressive midfield approach is needed for England to compete with tournament favourites France and Argentina.

Despite England topping Group L with seven points from three matches, Scholes has expressed reservations about the team’s performances under Tuchel. England opened their campaign with a 4-2 victory over Croatia, followed by a goalless draw with Ghana and a laboured 2-0 win against Panama.

Rice, who has been named England’s vice-captain for the tournament, missed the final group game against Panama due to a calf issue but is widely expected to return for the knockout fixture against DR Congo on Wednesday.

Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Scholes questioned whether the Arsenal midfielder provides sufficient forward momentum for this England side.

“England don’t need to play two sitting midfielders in the next game. No disrespect to Congo but in those type of games you play as many attackers as possible,” Scholes said. “I think it has to be a straight shootout between Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson, and I think I would just go with Anderson.”

Scholes elaborated on his preference for the Newcastle midfielder, who is reportedly close to a £116m move to Manchester City. “I think he [Anderson] will pass it forward a bit more,” Scholes said. “Think about Rice with Arsenal… look, he’s a great player and a great leader, I get all that, and you’d rather him in your team than not most of the time. But Arsenal didn’t play great football last season either, did they? Rice couldn’t get Odegaard in the game, so maybe that’s transferred a bit to England. I don’t think that happens with Anderson.”

The former England international delivered a blunt assessment of the team’s overall prospects, suggesting they currently trail defending champions Argentina and 2022 finalists France.

“It wasn’t great, was it?” Scholes said of the Panama victory. “Across the three games I don’t think I’ve seen a team that will win the World Cup. It hasn’t been great but look, they could get better and they’re winning games and I do think they’ve got match winners in the team. I just don’t think they’re at the level of France or Argentina yet.”

However, Scholes’ former Manchester United teammate Nicky Butt offered a contrasting view. Butt agreed that Tuchel should deploy only one defensive midfielder but insisted Rice is indispensable. “You can’t play two sitting midfielders against teams who aren’t going to have any of the possession,” Butt said. “I’d definitely play Declan Rice in the next game so I would leave Elliot Anderson out. I think he’s been brilliant and is a top, top, top player which is why Man City have gone and paid £120m for him, [but] I just don’t think you can leave Declan Rice out. He’s one of those players you just don’t leave out.”

England face DR Congo in Atlanta on Wednesday in their first knockout fixture of the 2026 World Cup.