What Ian Wright has said about England national football team

Wright argued that England's defensive switch to a 5-4-1 after scoring could not work against Argentina.

“His strategy to bring on the defensive guys in the 5-4-1, it's not going to work”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: Messi Takes England Out of the World Cup, Plus Preparing for Christopher Nolan’s 'The Odyssey' With Ian Wright, Anthony Dabbundo, and Sean Fennessey (Jul 16, 2026) · Listen from 6:04

Wright rejected Tuchel's claim that the loss was not a structural problem.

“It was a structure problem, if you ask me, because we couldn't get out”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: Messi Takes England Out of the World Cup, Plus Preparing for Christopher Nolan’s 'The Odyssey' With Ian Wright, Anthony Dabbundo, and Sean Fennessey (Jul 16, 2026) · Listen from 12:08

Wright argued England should build its attack around Jude Bellingham, as Argentina does around Messi.

“absolutely we should be looking to say listen this is the main guy and we want the main guy up there”

The Bill Simmons Podcast: Messi Takes England Out of the World Cup, Plus Preparing for Christopher Nolan’s 'The Odyssey' With Ian Wright, Anthony Dabbundo, and Sean Fennessey (Jul 16, 2026) · Listen from 16:55