Paul Merson highlights potential ‘problem’ for Arsenal star ahead of England vs Mexico

Paul Merson fears Declan Rice could get exposed if Thomas Tuchel opts to play him as a makeshift full-back in England’s last 16 clash with Mexico at the World Cup.

Injuries to both Tino Livramento and Reece James have left Tuchel with an almighty selection headache at right-back, with Djed Spence given the nod for England’s dramatic comeback victory over DR Congo on Wednesday.

Spence proved a nuisance in attack with his searing pace and trickery but also looked vulnerable out of possession, most notably for Brian Cipenga’s seventh-minute opener when he was dragged out of position.

Tuchel decided to send Eberechi Eze on in place of Spence as he rang the changes in the second half, with Rice, in turn, moving to right-back, and it wasn’t long before Harry Kane had found a crucial equaliser in Atlanta.

After Kane went on to win it for the Three Lions with an unstoppable strike at the death, a visibly exhausted Rice said he hoped it was the last time he had to fill in as a defender for his country.

‘It was probably the hardest 12 minutes of the game having a stint at right-back,’ Rice told the BBC.

‘In games like that it was probably too much of a basketball match at times, back and forth, and we had to take the sting out of it because they have fast wingers. I think we made more hard work of it than we needed to.

‘I have played there two or three times this season, I know the role, it is probably not my biggest strength, but to do anything for the team and the manager.

‘With 12 minutes left I said I would do my best and I think I did well there.

‘Let’s see what happens next game, but hopefully I don’t have to be at right back.’

Former England international Merson was massively impressed by Rice’s cameo display at right-back and believes the Arsenal star may be forced to continue in the position if James loses his race to return to full fitness.

However, the Sky Sports pundit – who represented the Three Lions at the 1998 World Cup – is concerned Rice could be left vulnerable in one-vs-one situations at the Azteca on Monday.

‘You know what, for the 15 minutes or so that he had at right-back he was outstanding,’ Merson explained.

‘You had that little triangle with him, Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka down the right-hand side a couple of times.

‘My problem is that when you’ve got a game like Mexico where they’re isolated and it will be one-vs-ones… he’ll do a job, of course he will, he’s Declan Rice, a brilliant professional and a brilliant player but I don’t know.

‘Do you go with Djed Spence again? He has got pace. I know he struggled a bit yesterday but he is a full-back, that is his position.

‘Otherwise, you drop Jude Bellingham back, play Jordan Henderson, then you obviously play Morgan Rogers or Eze in the hole.

‘But for me, that is an award one. It’s easy for us to say now, “Oh, missed a trick! Should have taken so-and-so or so-and-so!”, but no one knows everybody is going to get injured.

‘But that could come back to bite Tuchel, this right-back situation.’

Asked for his favoured midfield combination against Mexico, Merson replied: ‘I like Bellingham coming from deep.

‘I think he might probably play Rice at right-back and I only say that because he could then play Henderson, he could play [Elliot] Anderson and Bellingham further back, and he can make those runs from further deep where he’s harder to pick up.

‘I would probably put Morgan Rogers in the hole instead of Eze in this game because I think Mexico will have a go at England.

‘If it was a game where they sat ten behind the ball then you’d want Eze because he’s got that little bit of guile.’

Unsurprisingly, Merson picked out Kane as his star man against DR Congo, with the ‘world-class’ striker taking his tally at World Cups to 13 goals in 15 appearances.

‘Phenomenal, absolutely phenomenal. Top drawer, absolutely world-class,’ he said of the England captain.

‘His second goal is just unbelievable. If Lionel Messi had scored that or Kylian Mbappe then we’d be going mad. It was just a phenomenal, phenomenal finish.

‘The first one, I thought it was fortunate. I thought their goalkeeper was outstanding but that was probably his easiest save of the whole day if I’m being honest.

‘He tried to punch it instead of parrying it to the side and he should have saved that one.

‘But Harry Kane, what can you say about him, he just produces time and time again.’

Asked if Kane could go on and win the Ballon d’Or award this year, Merson replied: ‘There’s a long way to go. The top scorers like Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, if one of them goes on and wins the World Cup again, they’re going to score a lot more goals if they do.

If Harry Kane goes and wins the World Cup and keeps on scoring then he’ll go and win the Ballon d’Or.

‘So there’s a long way to go but he’s definitely in the conversation. He’s just been unbelievable this season, the goals he gets, he gets all kind of goals: left foot, right foot, headers, long-range efforts, six yards out, off the post, he gets every kind of goal.

‘He’s just an all-round centre-forward in my opinion.’

While Merson believes England have to be in the conversation to lift the coveted trophy, the side’s upcoming clash in the Azteca – which sits 7,000 feet above sea level – has him fearing the worst.

‘They’re in it. My biggest worry is this next game in Mexico in the altitude. It’s such a difficult game.

‘Talent-wise, I don’t think Mexico have got a player who could get in the England team, but when you’re playing the way they’re playing with the fans and in the stadium, with that altitude, I think this is a difficult, difficult game.

‘I think this is a heads or tails football match and I wouldn’t be shocked if we didn’t win.

‘If it was anywhere else in the world then I would expect us to win it but in Mexico it’s a difficult game.’

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