Former Premier League forward Troy Deeney has claimed three England stars were ‘ignorant and arrogant’ in a lengthy rant on American television after the Three Lions’ victory over Panama.
Thomas Tuchel’s side won 2-0 against Panama, with goals from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane ensuring England finished top of their World Cup group.
England had been frustrated in the first half by Panama but made the breakthrough when Bellingham stabbed in from a corner, before turning the provider for Kane to double the lead.
Despite England advancing through to the last-32 of the World Cup with an unbeaten record in the group stages, their performances were torn apart by pundits on American broadcaster CBS.
Former Watford striker Deeney led the attack on the Three Lions and accused England’s wide men Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Noni Madueke of being ‘arrogant’ against Panama.
‘Have a look at the possession they have lost: 14 for Saka, 20 for Rashford and seven for Madueke,’ Deeney said. ‘Now that’s fine when you are being really insightful with the passes and trying little flicks around the corner.
England booked their place in the last-32 at the World Cup by beating Panama, but their performance was attacked by pundits on US television
Ex-Premier League forward Troy Deeney took aim at England’s performance and accused wide men Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Noni Madueke of being ‘arrogant’ against Panama
Deeney highlighted how the trio had repeatedly lost possession, with Madueke giving the ball away seven times after being brought on in the 63rd minute
‘If you watch the game, Madueke when he first came on kicked it past someone and straight out for a goal kick; am I meant to get excited?
‘Rashford kept coming inside onto his right foot and wants to shoot, if the shooting option is not on “I’ll just kick it, someone will be there”, it is so wasteful.
‘The second half they got a platform because the ball was going out to the wide players better because Panama were getting a bit more confident and wanting to take them on, there were more spaces and one vs ones – [and] they got worse.
‘You know what they were, they were arrogant and ignorant. They felt “I’m quicker than that person, I am just going to run past them, I play for whatever club, I am better than that person”.
‘You are playing against another man on the opposite side who plays for their national team and feels “it is important to me” and they are going home so they want to showcase everything against England, in front of the most views I am probably going to get in my career and show what I can do.
‘They were ignorant and arrogant.’
Deeney continued his rant by claiming that England fans had been ‘sold the dream’ of attacking football under Tuchel and warned they fail to control games as they prepare for the knock-out stages.
The former forward added that England players who have been billed as superstars look ‘bang average too often’, as he insisted that the Three Lions are yet to have a good game at this World Cup.
Mike Grella, an American pundit, claimed England should consider that they are ‘not that good at football’
Despite the criticism, Thomas Tuchel’s side topped the group and will face DR Congo in the last-32
England began the tournament with a 4-2 victory over Croatia, before a goalless draw against Ghana and a 2-0 victory over Panama.
Deeney’s explosive critique was backed by American pundit Mike Grella, who previously represented five clubs in England, including Leeds, Brentford and Bury.
Grella questioned whether England are just ‘not that good at football’, as the pundits continued to lay into Tuchel’s side.
Grella said: ‘This guy is worth £100m, this guy is worth £200m, you guys have got all these world beaters, maybe it is Tuchel, maybe it is Rashford, maybe it is this guy – “Do you guys ever think you’re not that good at football?”
‘You come to a World Cup and people want to see England play, you are synonymous with football.
‘This player is worth a billion, the Panama players if you put them together are maybe worth £60m. One player is worth the cost of the entire Panamanian team.
‘But you lose every 50/50 battle, you play slow and predictable, you do everything the opposing team want to do and have no street smarts.
‘There has been six halves of football and five of them you played bad, one you play good because Croatia got tired at the end of the game.’
The final member of the CBS punditry panel, former West Ham and Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker, agreed with Deeney’s assessment as he targeted what England must improve heading into the knock-out stage.
Reo-Coker expressed concerns that England looked too predictable with both Rashford and Saka wanting to cut inside onto their favoured foot.
He insisted England need to hold themselves to higher standards moving forwards, warning that ‘top class players don’t give the ball away’ as he analysed England’s tendency to lose possession.
England will have a short turnaround for their last-32 match, with Tuchel’s side facing DR Congo on July 1 in Atlanta.
Victory would set up a last-16 tie against either co-hosts Mexico or Ecuador, which would be played at the Azteca Stadium on July 6.
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