Gary Neville critical of England’s midfield which includes Tottenham Hotspur’s Eric Dier

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Tottenham Hotspur’s Eric Dier started for England against Switzerland on Sunday.

Gary Neville has brutally claimed that England’s midfield, which included Tottenham Hotspur’s Eric Dier, that started their UEFA Nations League encounter against Switzerland is ‘not going to win you a tournament’.

Gareth Southgate selected Tottenham’s Dier, Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard and Manchester City’s Fabian Delph in the middle of the park as England beat the Swiss on penalties in their UEFA Nations League third-place play-off clash.

Dele Alli was another player who started, whilst striker Harry Kane, who was on the bench for the defeat to Holland last time out, was brought back into the fold by Southgate.

Speaking during his commentary stint for Sky Sports Football (09/06/2019), Neville made an honest assessment of the midfield that started on Sunday.

“We are 12 months away from a major tournament again,” Neville told Sky Sports. “You look at that midfield that is playing [against Switzerland]. Fabian Delph, Eric Dier and Jesse Lingard. And you think, ‘that’s not going to win you a tournament’.

“That’s not being disrespectful to all those three players because they all work like you wouldn’t believe. They do the very best. They are committed. In international football, the midfield is the most important area.

“England need to somehow in these next two to four years to produce rhythm players. Players that can control a game. There’s the talk of Foden, Harry Winks and others that a more technical coming through.”

Tottenham’s Harry Winks has been part of England’s midfield before and he started that stunning win against Spain during their road to the UEFA Nations League semi-final’s.

But Southgate opted against selecting him in the squad this time around as his chances of making a return to England’s set-up next season have no doubt increased.

Other players that could potentially earn a call-up are City’s Foden, but he does not play regularly and Leicester City’s creative spark James Maddison.