Jarell Quansah makes his World Cup debut in England's final group game against Panama, but Gary Neville is far from convinced about his selection in Thomas Tuchel's side
21:59, 27 Jun 2026Updated 22:09, 27 Jun 2026
Gary Neville speaking on ITV during the World Cup
Gary Neville wasn't convinced by Jarell Quansah's selection for England at the World Cup(Image: ITV)
Gary Neville has questioned Jarell Quansah’s inclusion in England’s team against Panama, and admitted he would rather have seen Trent Alexander-Arnold in the side.
Former Liverpool defender Quansah makes his World Cup debut as England plays its final group game at this year’s tournament, knowing that its place in the knockout stages is already secured.
The Three Lions’ place in the last-32 is safe, which has led to Thomas Tuchel making a raft of changes. As well as Quansah, Bukayo Saka, Morgan Rogers, Marcus Rashford and Nico O’Reilly have all been given the nod as England looks to top Group L.
Quansah’s inclusion comes just a year after he left Liverpool for Bayer Leverkusen, although he finds himself in somewhat unfamiliar territory at right-back, which former Manchester United captain Neville is not at all convinced by.
“One position I think I’m pretty qualified to speak on is right-back, and if you’d said to me a couple of months ago that Quansah would be playing right-back for England at a tournament, I’d say that something’s gone badly wrong,” Neville said on ITV’s coverage.
“He’s picked Reece James and [Tino] Livramento, two players who are injury-prone. He’s not brought Trent Alexander-Arnold in, who is obviously someone with world class quality, for what reasons we can only imagine.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 27: Jarell Quansah #26 of England controls the ball under pressure from Jose Luis Rodriguez #7 of Panama during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L match between Panama and England at New York New Jersey Stadium on June 27, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Jarell Quansah made his World Cup debut for England against Panama(Image: Getty Images)
“And we’ve got Quansah at right-back. I saw Quansah play right-back for Liverpool in a Carabao Cup final a couple of years ago, it wasn’t a particularly beautiful sight, because he’s more of a right center-back.
“That’s where we are right now. Look, England will win this group and will win this game, but there is some turbulence in there.
“He’s played right-back twice I think in the last two seasons for his clubs, so he’s not a right-back.”
Fellow pundits Roy Keane and Ian Wright were slightly more understanding of Quansah’s inclusion, although the former feels he won’t be in a position to start during the knockout stages - a view Neville agreed with as he insisted he’d have rather seen fellow former Liverpool star Alexander-Arnold get the call-up.
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“I wonder whether he’s basically played Quansah at right-back today on the basis that he knows Djed Spence is going to have to play every other game in the tournament, because he’s basically put all his eggs in one basket,” Neville continued.
“My point is, Djed Spence is the only option really at right-back. Quansah is not an option going into the games further in the tournament at right-back, so the reason he’s probably done it today is thinking ‘look, we can handle Panama, Quansah can play there, he can do a job as Roy says, and Spence can come in for the last-32.”
He added: “In a squad of 26 players, we shouldn’t really be in a position where we haven’t got specialists playing, irrespective of what happens with the rest.
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“I really don’t think we should be. 26 is a huge number. He’s brought in number 23, 24, 25 and 26 who are deemed to be ‘good travelers’, people who can maybe play in different positions. I would much prefer to have Trent Alexander-Arnold out there today.”