'No chance'- Tottenham star to be Thomas Tuchel’s savour? Roy Keane laughs off Gary Neville prediction

As per The Overlap (h/t Tottenham News), Neville and Keane clashed over Spence’s international prospects during a discussion on The Overlap on 20 November. The former Manchester United teammates held contrasting views on whether the Spurs defender should start at the tournament. Neville stated:

“I think he’s going for Spence. when push comes to shove in a proper game. His centre-backs are probably some of the weakest in the team, I would probably say. I think he’s going to go for a more solid back four with Spence tucking in.”

However, the Irishman wasn’t convinced by his former teammate’s assessment, as he countered:

“Well, you said Spence is a solid player. He’s not that solid.”

Neville doubled down on his stance, responding:

“I think he’s more solid and stable than the other three.”

Keane shot back, having none of what the former Manchester United star had to say, and stated:

“No chance.”

Neville maintained his argument that Spence’s defensive reliability makes him better suited for tournament football. He said:

As footballers, all three of them are better players than Spence. I just think that when it comes to the tournament, I think if you said to him to just stick to someone who’s a good right winger for another team, I think he may put him in a game where push comes to shove.

Spence’s impressive England performances

The Tottenham defender remained on the bench during England’s recent FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania, suggesting Tuchel may prefer O’Reilly’s profile. However, Spence was excellent in previous outings against Serbia and Latvia.

Tournament football often demands a different profile of player compared to club football. While O’Reilly, Lewis-Skelly, and Livramento may possess more natural technical ability, Spence’s experience in high-pressure situations and his defensive solidity could prove more valuable when facing elite opposition at the World Cup.

Frank has clearly recognized these qualities, which explains why Spence has remained in the starting lineup even after Udogie’s return to fitness. His performances for Tottenham this season have been consistently reliable, and that dependability is exactly what England will need in the knockout stages of a major tournament.

Spence’s versatility is his greatest asset, he is equally comfortable at left-back or right-back, which could prove invaluable for Tuchel when selecting his final squad. Neville appears spot on in his assessment: as the more experienced and adaptable option, Spence deserves serious consideration to start at the World Cup.