GONE SOUTH: Gary Neville blasts ‘ILLEGAL’ decision to leave Trent Alexander-Arnold on the bench for England’s clash with Slovakia – and warns the tie has ‘Iceland vibes’ after a dire first half

Neville likened the performance to a notorious England loss.

During the Slovakia game, Gary Neville criticised Gareth Southgate and insisted on three changes being made before halftime.

After putting on yet another subpar display in the first forty-five minutes, England led 1-0 at the half thanks to a goal from Ivan Schranz.

Gary Neville raged at half-time4Gary Neville raged at half-timeCredit: ITVGareth Southgate is on the brink of potentially losing his job4Gareth Southgate is on the brink of potentially losing his jobCredit: RexNeville was enraged as he and other ITV analysts Ian Wright and Roy Keane criticised Southgate’s methods and team selection.

The former England right-back stated that Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon should be substituted out wide.

Additionally, Neville desired Trent Alexander-Arnold to take Kieran Trippier’s place so Kyle Walker could move from the left wing to the left.

Neville became enraged and said, “He’s tried minimal interference, but this has Iceland vibes written all over it. I was sitting on a bench in Nice eight years ago when England played Iceland.”Gareth had to act now or never. We’ve been watching this for the past three and a half games; he needs to step in and rip up the script he’s been following the entire tournament.”We made an effort to be incredibly upbeat and believed that England would win today’s match.Now he has to turn. He needs to get three players on the pitch, in my opinion; it can’t be just one substitute.Trent Alexander-Arnold, Anthony Gordon, and Cole Palmer are people I believe we really must see. He needs to change the game’s entire storyline.”That won’t change unless he takes immediate action.”

Neville went on, “I would probably start with Kyle Walker and move him over.

“Then, after ten minutes if it doesn’t change, I’d make another two.

“Gordon will give you a runner and we know Palmer is in better form at this moment in time that the players that are out on that pitch.

“Trent Alexander-Arnold – it’s illegal that lad is not playing football in any game like this for England.

“We cannot have Walker and Trippier and left and right-back when we are on the ball most of the time when that is the kid that is the best football player we’ve ever seen at right-back in this country.

“He’s got to be on the pitch.”

Keane added: “It’s now or never. He can’t keep waiting. The waiting is over now. 

“This is the biggest team talk of Gareth’s career. He’s got to make changes.

“I’m looking and thinking ‘are they a team, are they in this together?’ All these question marks are there now and it has to be changed.

“The only encouragement is, I think, that the set-piece delivery has been decent. That’s about it.

“He has to make changes, has to get more energy, he has to find a way back into the game. They look so flat – a bit like Italy – they look like they’ve ran out of ideas. 

“They are not pulling together, no demands on each other, we see Walker, John Stones, really top players making sloppy mistakes.

“It’s given the opposition encouragement. Nowhere near good enough.”

Roy Keane also slammed the performance“How many more excuses can we make?” Keane continued. The composition of the squad, the characters, Luke Shaw, Jack Grealish, etc. It has continued for numerous months.

This is not a group that shares a same goal. They need to find a solution, which is still possible because it’s only 1-0.

“There are two things to do: when to panic and when to strike the correct balance. Remain calm; the score is just 1-0. Trent Alexander-Arnold started England's first two group games but was dropped for Slovenia“He [Gareth] has to get the group of players in the dressing room and ask ‘what are you going to do about it?'” Keane said.

“These are significant times. I talked about quality before the game, but quality means nothing if you don’t want to win a football game. It’s simply been really bad.”

At the interval, Southgate remained unchanged despite their ire.

In the six minutes following the restart, Phil Foden scored, but he was not onside.

And at last, Palmer replaced Trippier just after the hour mark, and Bukayo Saka was switched to left back.

Nevertheless, there was still no progress, and Bellingham’s breakthrough came in the 91st minute when he spectacularly kicked his way into extra time.

Then, with a goal from Kane, England overcame the deficit to secure their place in the quarterfinals.

Next up is Switzerland, who will be praying that by next Saturday, Southgate hasn’t resolved the issues..

Gary Neville demanded Cole Palmer was subbed on4Gary Neville demanded Cole Palmer was subbed onCredit: Rex

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