‘Proper rank’ – Shock England suggestion to fix major issue slammed by former Three Lions assistant

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has panned Tony Cascarino’s ‘proper rank’ suggestion to play Declan Rice at right-back against DR Congo.

Right-back has become a problem position for England at the 2026 World Cup after Reece James missed the 2-0 win over Panama due to a hamstring injury.

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Jarell Quansah got the nod to deputise for James over Djed Spence before the latter replaced the former midway through the second half after the Bayer Leverkusen man was forced off with an ankle problem.

Following the group stage win over Panama, Cascarino suggested that Rice, who sat out the final group stage clash, play at right-back for the DR Congo game on Wednesday.

Hasselbaink, though, was having none of it on World Cup Breakfast with Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent on Monday morning.

When Goldstein asked whether the idea of dropping the Arsenal man into defence was “rank or not rank”, Hasselbaink replied: “So rank.

“Why would I put my best midfielder [at] right-back, which is not his best position?

“You’re weakening two positions. You’re weakening your midfield and you’re weakening your right-back.

“Okay, your best right-back is Reece James, so you’re going to put somebody there. That is different.

“You keep that midfield intact.

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“The only way I can see that happening is if they put Declan right-back, and then when they have the ball, he becomes [part of] the midfield.

“But no, I would want Declan in midfield, staying in midfield, and doing his thing in midfield.”

“Proper rank, yeah?” Goldstein then asked, to which Hasselbaink said: “Proper, proper, proper, yeah.”

Sean Dyche echoed Hasselbaink’s sentiments as the ex-Nottingham Forest boss said: “That wouldn’t be my thought process.

“I don’t see the point of having a right-back there if you’re not going to play a right-back.

“And because of his prowess, Declan Rice’s that is, I wouldn’t move him out of there [midfield].

“You need your strength in the middle of the pitch. I’d keep him in there.”

What did Cascarino say?

Speaking with Max Scott of his England assessment on World Cup Weekender following the Panama win Cascarino said: “He might even select a midfielder to go and play right-back. You know, he might do that.”

Cascarino laid out his own right-back plan, and compared it to playing Steven Gerrard on the right side of defence in the 2005 ‘Miracle of Istanbul’ Champions League final.

“And I’ve always said, and Declan Rice has disagreed with me on it, I always said, Declan Rice can play centre-half, he can play midfield, and you could play him as a full-back,” the former striker continued.

“Steven Gerrard, you could play as a right-back. He did it in the Champions League final because he was so good athletically.

“Now, if I wanted someone to be able to handle someone physically and athletically, I’m looking at Declan Rice.

“I don’t think you need two holding midfielders against DR Congo. I think that if you go, Elliot Anderson and Rice, I think you’re going to lose something elsewhere on the pitch, attacking-minded.

“So, look, we’re batting around some small details, but it could be very vital.

“And I watched DR Congo, I worked on their game, and I thought Portugal got caught up with having too much possession in bad areas that didn’t really hurt DR Congo.”

Has Rice played right-back before?

Rice was a star player for Arsenal as they pipped Manchester City to the Premier League title.

It marked the Gunners’ first domestic triumph since the 2003-04 season.

However, their title pursuit almost came undone in a late controversial 1-0 win at West Ham in mid-May.

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With Jurrien Timber sidelined, and Ben White forced off midway through the first half, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta opted to move Rice to right-back.

It proved an ill-advised decision as the 27-year-old looked out of sorts in defence before Arteta corrected the change at the break by bringing Cristhian Mosquera on in place of Riccardo Calafiori and moving the former Valencia man to right-back.

Tottenham Hotspur full-back Spence is now expected to deputise at right-back for Wednesday’s Round of 32 clash with DR Congo.