​The England squad is officially through to the Round of 16 after a dramatic comeback victory over DR Congo, but while Harry Kane’s brilliance continues to bail the Three Lions out, the team’s path to glory is being hampered by a glaring, persistent issue.

​As Thomas Tuchel prepares his side for a high-stakes showdown against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium, one major criticism is overshadowing the preparations. Former Liverpool defender and pundit Jamie Carragher has identified a “problem position” that he believes could ultimately cost England the World Cup trophy.

​The “Wide” Dilemma: A Rotating Door of Inconsistency

​While England’s core is strong, Thomas Tuchel has struggled to find a settled formula on the flanks. Throughout the tournament, the wide positions have been a revolving door of frustration. Noni Madueke and Bukayo Saka have been splitting time on the right, while Marcus Rashford and Anthony Gordon have rotated on the left.

​The rotation, while perhaps intended to keep legs fresh, has failed to produce consistent output. The issue was laid bare in the win over DR Congo, where Rashford struggled to make an impact before being replaced by Gordon—who immediately turned the game on its head by assisting Kane twice.

​Despite Gordon’s impact from the bench, Carragher remains unconvinced that any of Tuchel’s current options have the quality to deliver at the highest level.

​Carragher’s Brutal Verdict

​Speaking to Sky Sports, Carragher didn’t mince words regarding the quality currently available in the wide areas:

​”The problem he’s got with the wide players he’s used so far is they all look better when they don’t play. So whenever one of them is on the bench, it’s the best game they have because the guy on the pitch is not delivering so you think, ‘let’s put him in again.’”

​Carragher believes this cycle of disappointment is set to continue for the duration of England’s tournament:

​”I think this will continue between now and the end of the tournament or whenever it ends for England. I think we’ll be changing the wide players after an hour and questioning who should play, as none of them have done enough, really.”

​Why England is Lagging Behind the Elite

​When you stack England’s current wide talent against the likes of France or other tournament heavyweights, the disparity in world-class quality is stark. While Kane is performing at a legendary level, football at this level requires high-end output from both flanks to sustain a deep run.

​If Tuchel cannot find a way to get consistent productivity from his wingers, England may find themselves outplayed by tactically superior opponents who can neutralize their central threat.

​What’s Next for Tuchel?

​As the squad shifts focus to the Mexico match, Tuchel faces a massive selection headache. Will he stick with the tried-and-tested, or will he finally reward Anthony Gordon’s game-changing cameo with a start?

​With injuries to Reece James and Jarell Quansah adding to the defensive chaos—even forcing Declan Rice to deputize at right-back—Tuchel has enough problems without his attackers failing to fire. For England fans, the hope remains that one of these wingers finds their form, but as Carragher warns, time is running out.

​Do you agree with Carragher? Is England’s lack of world-class wingers going to be the reason we crash out, or are we being too harsh on Tuchel’s squad? Let us know who you think should start on the wings against Mexico in the comments below!