World Cup

Gary Neville responds to inadvertently 'revealing England's tactics'

By Danielle Joynson, Staff Reporter | 12 June 2014

Gary Neville laughs off reports that he has inadvertently given a glimpse of England's tactics to face Italy in their World Cup opener on Saturday.

England coach Gary Neville has laughed off reports that he has revealed the Three Lions' tactics for Saturday's World Cup opener against Italy.

Newspapers The Mirror and the Daily Mail published images of Neville in Brazil carrying a piece of paper containing instructions for the team.

Some of the content that was snapped read: "When the ball goes into the control zone – team must take at least 3 passes before hitting the [centre-forward]. If the defending team win the ball back, they counter straight away."

Neville took to Twitter to laugh off the reports by saying that the media should be more concerned with yesterday's Wayne Rooney press conference as opposed to a sheet of paper used for training sessions.

The Sky Sports pundit wrote: "Media feel routine, innocuous training notes are the biggest story of the day. People surely are more interested in what Wazza said today!

"My curtains have been closed permanently for the duration of this tournament! Haha."

After England play Italy in Manaus, they will face Uruguay and Costa Rica in Group D.