Declan Rice one of five England stars who magnify the team's 'huge weakness' - ex-Man United coach

Thomas Tuchel has been widely criticised for his England squad selection since before the World Cup began, and concerns are now growing.

A frustrating 0-0 draw against Ghana and an arduous 2-0 win against Panama both highlighted a major weakness with the lack of creativity in England's midfield.

Jude Bellingham has been England's standout performer in North America, but Elliot Anderson, Declan Rice and Morgan Rogers have lacked the tools required to break sides down.

Former Man United assistant manager Mick Brown told Football Insider that England lack creative players in their midfield and have instead stocked up on runners.

All of the midfield profiles in Tuchel's squad fall into the hard-working category, while creative players and incisive passers including the likes of Adam Wharton were left at home.

As a result, the Three Lions have already shown the find it difficult to break down defensive-minded sides, and that could cost them later in the tournament.

Thomas Tuchel slammed for England selections again

Brown told Football Insider back in March that Tuchel was facing "major issues" with England amid doubts over his squad selection for the tournament.

When the squad was eventually announced, frustrations grew, with big-name stars left out, although the win against Croatia seemed to calm those nerves.

Back-to-back frustrating displays against teams set out to stifle England have seen those concerns grow once more, however, and their major problem has become clear.

"England have one huge weakness which has become clear," Brown told Football Insider.

"You watch the games against Ghana and Panama, and they've struggled to create chances and opportunities, they can't break down teams who sit in and defend.

"That's because the midfield is packed with hard workers and runners: Anderson, Rice, Bellingham, Rogers, Henderson, all of these players like to run with the ball.

"Against teams like Ghana and Panama, there's nowhere to run with it because they're sitting in and closing the space.

"England don't have any natural passers who are going to get on the ball and play passes to break lines, feed runners in behind and move players around, that's a major oversight.

"Somebody like Adam Wharton, for example, was left at home when his qualities are exactly what England would need in that type of situation.

"Hopefully, it becomes less of a concern later in the tournament when they're playing against better sides, but at the moment it's a big miss and it could cost them."

Which players would have solved England's problems?

A number of midfielders can be considered unlikely not to have been included in Tuchel's squad, and whatever the reasoning, may have proved valuable.

Wharton would represent the most natural creative midfielder to play alongside Rice, having displayed his line-breaking passing and forward-thinking game at Crystal Palace.

Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White was considered harshly treated after a strong season at the City Ground which highlighted his goalscoring abilities.

Meanwhile, while he plays in a different position to the likes of Wharton, Cole Palmer's creativity could have been a boost to England's chances, but he remained at home.