World Cup 2026: Anderson, Not Rice Should Start Against DR Congo –Scholes Advises Tuchel

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has urged England manager Thomas Tuchel to drop Declan Rice and start Elliot Anderson in his place for the FIFA World Cup 2026 round of 32 clash against DR Congo.

Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Scholes stated that England does not need two defensive midfielders in such a game and that Anderson passes the ball forward more effectively.

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“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. I think it has to be a straight shootout between Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson, and I think I would just go with Anderson.

“I think he (Anderson) will pass it forward a bit more. 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?

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“Rice couldn’t get (Martin) Odegaard in the game, so maybe that’s transferred a bit to England. I don’t think that happens with Anderson.”

Rice was rested for the 2-0 win over Panama after taking a heavy blow to the calf in the goalless draw with Ghana last Tuesday and is free to start the clash this week. However, Tuchel may listen to Scholes as he looks to breath more life into his side.