Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has urged England manager Thomas Tuchel to bench Declan Rice for the upcoming World Cup round of 32 match against DR Congo.
Scholes believes the team needs a more aggressive tactical approach to compete with tournament favorites like France and Argentina.
England advanced as Group L winners with seven points, beating Croatia 4-2, drawing 0-0 with Ghana, and defeating Panama 2-0.
Rice missed the final group game due to a calf injury but is available for the knockout stage.
Scholes Advocates for Elliot Anderson
Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Scholes said: "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."
He added: "I think it has to be a straight shootout between Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson, and I think I would just go with Anderson."
Scholes questioned Rice's impact on England's creativity, suggesting the Arsenal midfielder's style might limit attacking flow.
"I think he [Anderson] will pass it forward a bit more," Scholes said.
"Think about Rice with Arsenal… he's a great player and a great leader, I get all that. But Arsenal didn't play great football last season either, did they?
Rice couldn't get [Martin] Odegaard in the game, so maybe that's transferred a bit to England."
Scholes was critical of England's overall performance against Panama, saying: "It wasn't great, was it?"
He noted the team has individual match-winners but lacks the fluidity of top sides.
"Across the three games I don't think I've seen a team that will win the World Cup. It hasn't been great but they could get better.
I just don't think they're at the level of France or Argentina yet."
Former Manchester United teammate Nicky Butt disagreed, insisting Rice is indispensable. "You can't play two sitting midfielders against teams who won't have possession.
I'd definitely play Declan Rice. He's one of those players you just don't leave out," Butt said.
Tuchel also faces defensive selection issues, with fitness concerns over Reece James and Jarell Quansah ahead of the match.
