Gary Neville told ITV on Tuesday evening that it’s ‘fantastic’ that players like Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish are now given the ‘full opportunity to play’ for England.
But he made it clear that it makes him ‘feel a little sick’ that 25-30 years ago the likes of Matt Le Tissier and Glenn Hoddle were seen in a ‘negative’ light, such as whether they ’track-back’ rather than looking at their attacking talents.
Villa’s expert ball-carrier started England’s 1-0 win over the Czech Republic at Euro 2020 yesterday, where he provided the assist for Raheem Sterling’s goal.
But before the game, Neville made this point involving the Villa player.
“I think Jack Grealish will,” said Neville. “He will love this (pressure). I feel a little sick actually that for 25-30 years of my life I have seen players like Joe Cole, Matt Le Tissier and Glenn Hoddle demonised.
“You are always asked the question and they are negative ‘Oh, they don’t track-back. What system do we play?’.
“But now we have these fantastic, technical players like Jack Grealish and Phil Foden and it’s brilliant that we are now living in a more technical and tactical game, where Gareth has given him the full opportunity to play.”
In truth, many have felt that Grealish has been held back in an England shirt because of the perception that he doesn’t do enough defensive work or enough work off the ball.
So, perhaps Neville is wrong, and whilst Grealish was handed a start yesterday, players of his ilk are still being held back and seen in a negative light.
It will be interesting if Grealish does indeed start for the Three Lions during their last-16 knockout game because he has dome more than enough to keep his place in the side.
If Mason Mount gets enough training sessions in him, after having to self-isolate, then he might just take Grealish’s place in the starting XI.
Either way, if the boyhood Villa man isn’t picked then it won’t go down well with the England fans.
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