Neville and Keane Hail Tuchel's Masterful Shutout of Modric as England Dismantle Croatia

Thomas Tuchel's tactical acumen drew widespread admiration from ITV's punditry duo after England's commanding World Cup demolition of Croatia, with particular focus on how the Three Lions dismantled one of football's most accomplished midfielders.

Luka Modric, the 40-year-old AC Milan veteran, became only the fourth European player to feature in five World Cups when he took to the pitch in Dallas for the group-stage opener. His evening, however, proved decidedly torrid. England's relentless pressing in midfield left the former Real Madrid and Tottenham star struggling to impose himself, and he was substituted in the 58th minute with Mateo Kovacic taking his place.

Neville was effusive in his praise for how England's midfielders went about their business. "What we were worried about at the start of the game was Luka Modric was going to run the game," he told ITV. "That didn't happen. He's a great player but he went off after 55 minutes – it was just too much for him.

"Elliot Anderson, in particular, really targeted him, got around him and didn't let him dictate the game. In years gone past, England teams have stood off players like that and let them have one hundred passes – these lads didn't do that today, to be fair to them."

Keane, equally impressed by the midfield dominance, highlighted how experience becomes a liability when a player is overwhelmed. "When you're playing in the middle of the park, your experience can be vital, but if you're not at it and people are running over you, that experience can cost you," the former Ireland captain observed. "He's 40 years of age and England dominated the midfield and that was a big part of them winning the game. I don't think England paid Modric any respect in that sense."

The ex-Manchester United skipper was also buoyed by England's overall control of the contest. Though the side conceded twice, Keane suggested this imperfection served a useful purpose. "They'll be delighted," he said. "Scored four goals, the attacking players obviously having an impact, subs coming on and doing well, controlling the game. They looked dangerous at set pieces and I think it's good, though strange, that they conceded a couple of goals because it keeps them on their toes."

Neville pointed to Tuchel's half-time intervention as pivotal in shaping the second-half performance. "He's given them an absolute rocket at half-time hasn't he?" Neville suggested. "They've come out and for 20 minutes in that second half they were breath-taking. What I liked about it then is they had to sit off and play a bit deeper. He makes the substitutions and they have a big impact and we go and get that fourth. It was a really good second half and some of the stuff in the first 10 minutes was fantastic."

England's next challenge sees them travel to Boston on Tuesday evening to face Ghana, who edged past Panama courtesy of a 95th-minute winner in their opening fixture.