The 32: Nigel Spackman knows lessons must be learned after leak

Nigel Spackman returned to ‘The 32’ sofa on Saturday and told England to tighten up their security after Gareth Southgate’s supposed team was plastered all over the newspapers.

Spackman, speaking as a guest on Yahoo’s latest daily World Cup show, doesn’t think the press overstepped the mark but running stories revealing all.

READ MORE: Why life would be very difficult for Panama without football

READ MORE: The 32: Cole’s penalty conundrum – 12 yards is too far

Coach Steve Holland appeared to give the game away when a sheet of paper he was holding revealed what appeared to be the side to start against Panama on Sunday.

Former Chelsea star Spackman believes more care needs to be taken in the England camp ahead of bigger games.

He said: “I don’t think the press are wrong – they are doing their job. It was a freelance photographer who took the photo, which was picked up by a newspaper.

“These things do happen from time to time as we have seen, but England can’t afford a repeat.

“You have got to be careful. You can’t alienate the press, but you really don’t want your team slipping out before a World Cup game.

“I would be more concerned if it was against Belgium than Panama. I think Gareth Southgate has handled the whole thing really well.

“You have got to be very careful. Hopefully it wasn’t the team and Steve Holland hasn’t given it all away but if he has then let’s get on with it and beat Panama.

“Maybe they should make more a joke of it to defuse it and have more of a report – maybe every player walks out with a different team on a piece of paper and have a little bit of fun with the press.”