‘Not Good Enough’: Gary Neville Exposes England’s Biggest Weakness After Norway Escape
England may have booked their place in the World Cup semi-finals with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Norway, but former Manchester United captain Gary Neville believes the performance should serve as a warning rather than a celebration.
Speaking after the match, Neville admitted England deserve credit for showing resilience under pressure, but insisted the overall display was far from convincing. According to the Sky Sports pundit, the Three Lions looked vulnerable for long spells and relied too heavily on moments of individual brilliance instead of controlling the game.
Neville pointed to England’s defensive shape, technical mistakes and inability to dominate possession consistently as major concerns. While Jude Bellingham once again produced a match-winning performance, Neville suggested England cannot expect one or two players to carry the team through every knockout game.
The former England defender also questioned whether performances like this will be enough against stronger opponents in the latter stages of the tournament. He warned that teams with greater attacking quality could punish England if the same defensive lapses and lack of control continue.
Despite the criticism, Neville acknowledged the character shown by Thomas Tuchel’s side. Fighting back from adversity and finding a way to win are qualities every successful tournament team needs. However, he stressed that resilience alone will not be enough to lift the World Cup trophy.
England remain one of the favourites, but Neville believes significant improvements are still required. Better organisation, sharper passing and greater composure in possession will be essential if they are to overcome the elite teams that stand between them and World Cup glory.
For now, England are celebrating another famous victory. But Neville’s message is clear: winning papers over cracks, and unless those cracks are repaired quickly, England’s dream of becoming world champions could come to an abrupt end.
