Declan Rice withdrew from the England squad due to an injury and Thomas Tuchel used the opportunity to take a look at another midfielder, who grabbed his chance with both hands
Gary Lineker, former England footballer, during an interview for Bloomberg's "The Mishal Husain Show" podcast in London, UK, on Monday, May 18, 2026. Donald Trump has a "very peculiar, very odd" relationship with Gianni Infantino, according to football pundit Lineker, who criticized the head of football's governing body for creating and awarding the FIFA Peace Prize to the US president. Photographer: Jason Alden/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Gary Lineker was full of praise for Declan Rice's replacement(Image: Jason Alden/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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Gary Lineker has warned Declan Rice that his England place could be under threat thanks to the emergence of Alex Scott. Bournemouth midfielder Scott was handed his first start for the Three Lions on Saturday, producing a statement performance in their 7-0 victory over Croatia.
The 23-year-old has been ruled out of Tuesday's clash with Czechia because of an injury which is set to sideline him for two months. But Scott's performance against Croatia was good enough to leave Thomas Tuchel with a lasting impression, having also called him up in June for England's pre-World Cup camp.
Lineker was impressed, too, and believes that Rice should sit up and take notice, as Scott can offer something different. "What an assured performance we saw from Alex Scott," the former England striker began on The Rest is Football podcast.
"I watched him quite closely and it's obviously only one game against a team who didn’t play very well on the night, but he was a big part of the game. If you look at the great teams that win tournaments, they have control in games and I think Alex Scott is a player we haven't necessarily seen within that England midfield.
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"Declan Rice has his strengths and is brilliant with his delivery and work-rate, but there's a calmness and control to Scott, he never gives the ball away and he's always scanning. I was really impressed; what a very, very confident start to his England career.
"I wonder what Thomas Tuchel is going to do because Alex Scott has that kind of control and Declan Rice's a totally different player. Does it give him a different option now and does it mean, perhaps, that Declan's place is not always assured?
"Maybe he will want to play slightly differently with someone like Alex Scott. It might be a bit early to say that but it's a conversation to be had."
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 06: Declan Rice of Arsenal during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC at Emirates Stadium on September 06, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
Declan Rice pulled out of the England squad(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
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Rice has been a mainstay under Tuchel - even when the Arsenal star wasn't fully fit for games at the World Cup. But Scott has given the England manager an alternative, and he waxed lyrical about him following the record-breaking win in Rijeka.
"First start and what a start, what a performance," Tuchel hailed. "He is so smooth on the ball, his decision making is at the highest level. He plays with so much confidence.
"He is so active, so confident. The work rate off the ball. He is just the complete package. He gave us a lot of mobility and a lot of variety and work rate in the centre of the pitch."
England's midfielder #4 Alex Scott (R) vies for the ball with Croatia's midfielder #8 Mateo Kovacic during the UEFA Nations League, league A day 3: Group 3, football match between Croatia and England at the Stadion HNK Rijeka stadium in Rijeka, Croatia, on October 3, 2026. (Photo by MARKO PERKOV/AFP via Getty Images)
England's midfielder #4 Alex Scott (R) vies for the ball with Croatia's midfielder #8 Mateo Kovacic during the UEFA Nations League, league A day 3: Group 3, football match between Croatia and England at the Stadion HNK Rijeka stadium in Rijeka, Croatia, on October 3, 2026. (Photo by MARKO PERKOV/AFP via Getty Images)
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Scott also spoke after the match and is 'hungry' to prove himself at international level, having missed out on Tuchel's squad for the World Cup. "It gave me more hunger but I've said there's so many top players for this country, it's a tough squad to get into," the midfielder acknowledged.
"There was no bad feelings about not going to the World Cup, I went to the prep camp, I wanted to do that and learn as much as I can and it helped me coming into this camp and starting to play games."