Jamie Carragher warns England to be 'really careful' with one player after Thomas Tuchel decision vs Panama

Jamie Carragher has suggested England need to be 'really careful' with how they use one player - potentially in the later rounds of the World Cup - after seeing what happened during their match against Panama.

The Three Lions posed little attacking threat during the first half hour at the MetLife Stadium, despite going into the game as comfortable favourites to win.

A victory in New Jersey will be enough for England to top the group, though the evidence of the opening stages suggested it might be a slightly more challenging task than first anticipated.

Marcus Rashford was England's brightest spark in the first 30 minutes, having come in to the starting XI for Anthony Gordon, but it was Panama who almost opened the scoring after the hydration break when striker Tomas Rodriguez forced Jordan Pickford to push the ball behind for a corner.

In midfield, Elliot Anderson has been selected as a single pivot, despite Tuchel stating that Declan Rice is fit and available to play.

And Carragher told The Telegraph after the first half that the Three Lions have to be 'really careful' in using Anderson in the role - advice that may apply if England have to manage Rice's minutes later in the tournament.

"The only worry is how easily Panama has bypassed Anderson," he said. "It has happened a few times. That can happen against better opposition without more punishment.

"We look more dangerous. The problem is that the opposite also looks more dangerous. I think we have to be really careful using Elliot Anderson as the single pivot.

"The way the team is set-up, there are a lot of players in Harry Kane's space. It was the same against Ghana. This dropping deep is an issue when so many want the ball in the same area, as we saw with Kane in previous tournaments."

Tuchel makes feelings clear on touchline after Kane moment

Tuchel was spotted in animated discussion with all of his attacking players during the hydration break, and surely won't have been particularly happy with what he saw in the opening exchanges.

It took him just three minutes to furiously throw his arms up towards the bench after an attempted long-range pass from Harry Kane towards Bukayo Saka went straight out of play.

It wasn't clear whether Tuchel was particularly disappointed with Kane's pass, Saka's run or something else that happened in the build-up to the misplaced attempt, but the German shouted towards somebody on the pitch in a resigned manner before immediately complaining to assistant coach Anthony Barry.

Tuchel spoke after the Croatia victory about how a 'ball loss after a ball win is the most tiring thing', and the fact that the Three Lions gave away an easy throw-in may have been the target of his ire.

His criticism certainly won't have been about Kane's style of play, especially in dropping deep, as Tuchel has encouraged him to do so during his time as Three Lions boss.

Kane has increased his ability and tendency to link up play from midfield areas, and it has worked handsomely for him with both Bayern Munich and England.

Tuchel has built his team around this version of the former Spurs striker, and he produced an outstanding two-goal performance in England's 4-2 win over Croatia to kick off Group L.

It didn't quite work to the same effect in the 0-0 draw against Ghana, though Kane did have the best chance of the match when he fired a half-volley over the bar from close range in second half stoppage time.