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Manchester United legend Roy Keane took aim at Eberechi Eze ahead of England’s Nations League clash with the Czech Republic, calling on the Arsenal star to eradicate his ‘really sloppy’ play off the ball.
Eze held onto his place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad after this summer’s World Cup, despite being limited to substitute appearances at Arsenal at the start of the Premier League season.
The versatile 28-year-old was, though, left on the bench for England’s opening clash with Spain, before coming on as a replacement in the side’s following contests away to the Czech Republic and Croatia.
No doubt itching to start for his country for the first time since July’s thrilling third-place play-off victory over France, Eze was given the nod for England’s fourth and final match of the international break this evening.
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The former Crystal Palace man started on the left flank in support of England captain Harry Kane, who was winning a record-equaling 125th cap for the Three Lions at Wembley.
Speaking ahead of the match, Keane revealed he had been left ‘disappointed’ by Eze’s cameo appearance in England’s previous encounter, when Tuchel’s men ran out 7-0 victors over a sorry Croatia.
The iconic ex-Manchester United and Republic of Ireland midfielder was heavily critical of Eze’s contribution out of possession and told the attacker to bring his ‘A-game’ when given an opportunity.
‘I was disappointed with him the other night [against Croatia] when he came on,’ Keane said.
‘Obviously England are attacking and doing really well so when you get opportunities you’ve got to take them.
‘I thought he was really sloppy with some of his play so it’s a big opportunity for him tonight.
‘It’s a big test for him tonight. We know how good he is coming and getting the ball but we didn’t see that running power off the ball [against Croatia].
‘I’m not sure if he really wants to do it or if he’s not aware that he’s not doing it but I think it’s a big night for him tonight.
‘When you look at the attacking players and the challenges, and I’m including with Arsenal, sometimes in his play he can just be a bit sloppy. He needs to bring his A-game.’
With Eze far from a nailed-on starter at either club or international level, Keane called on the forward to ’embrace the challenge’.
He added: ‘I just worry sometimes players are going, “Oh, it’s not my time or he’s better than me”… embrace that challenge that the other players have brought to the England squad and at Arsenal.
‘He seems to just shy away from it. Embrace that and bring your A-game.
‘As I said, I’ve watched him far too many times and there are just too many sloppy moments.’
(Picture: Raddad Jebarah/Shutterstock)
Former Arsenal Ian Wright, who was on punditry duty alongside Keane, suggested Eze’s ‘languid’ style at times accentuated his apparent weaknesses when out of possession.
‘He’s got a playing style where if you’re sloppy and you’re playing with that languid kind of style then it can look worse than it is,’ he chimed in.
‘I’m not saying he should change his style but he just needs to tighten everything up a bit because he’s an amazing player.’
The conversation surrounding Eze did not end there, though, with ex-England and Arsenal full-back Lee Dixon weighing in with his two cents while on co-commentary duty for ITV.
‘It’s not his favourite position [left wing], I’m sure he’d admit that, but you’ve still got to put in a performance,’ Dixon explained.
‘Roy was talking about that before, when you get your chance you have to take it.
‘It’s just the end product, I think, with Eze that lets him down at times.’
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