Gary Neville has stated Tottenham Hotspur duo Joe Rodon and Ben Davies were ‘not good enough’ as Wales were knocked out at the Qatar World Cup, as he told his own podcast.
The former Manchester United defender stated that, during their defeat against Iran, with Spurs duo Davies and Rodon playing in a back three alongside Chris Mepham, they were ‘pulled apart’, before producing an even worse performance against England days later.
That knocked them out of the World Cup and sent them home early, after reaching their first World Cup tournament since 1958.
That was three games, one goal scored via the penalty spot and six goals conceded for Rob Page’s men on football’s biggest stage.
Whilst there was hype and excitement around Wales qualifying for the World Cup, for Neville, it has seemingly ended in disappointment because he expected more.
“I expected moments from the team,” said Neville. “I said ‘I can’t see Bale and Ramsey are going to take this lying down and there will be a sting in the tail. They will provide a moment or two moments’ – and nothing happened. Nothing happened (against England).
“The back players are not good enough. We saw that against Iran. I have never seen a back three get pulled apart as much, that’s why Robert Page went with a back four against England.
“The back three against Iran (Davies, Rodon and Mepham) were just getting pulled from pillar to post, they were crossing over all the time. But I was really disappointed in Wales. That might be the last time they step foot in a tournament.”
RODON AND DAVIES HEAD TO THE EXIT DOOR ALONGSIDE HOJBJERG
Joe Rodon and Ben Davies aren’t the only ones heading back to Hotspur Way early because Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg will be joining them on the early flight home.
Many were expecting Denmark to perhaps be the surprise package of the World Cup and cause a few upsets.
Well, it wasn’t meant to be and they booted out after losing 1-0 to Australia on Wednesday.
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