England’s final warm-up game would have done nothing to clear the mind of Thomas Tuchel – if anything, it will cloud his thinking.
They are nice problems to have, but players who he perhaps thought would not start the World Cup have given him a decision to make. Several, in fact.
Here, we run through the quartet who may well force Tuchel into a change of heart ahead of the opener against Croatia in Dallas…
Thomas Tuchel has a few selection headaches heading into England’s World Cup opener
Jude Bellingham
For any reporter who was in the room with Tuchel in West Palm Beach the day before Wednesday’s 3-0 win over Costa Rica, we left believing that Morgan Rogers had possession of the No.10 jersey.
‘We have a lot of proof we can win football matches without Jude and that’s the more important headline,’ Tuchel had said. ‘Jude is in amazing form but we have to stop talking about individuals. Jude will not win this World Cup alone. It’s simply impossible. No-one will win this World Cup alone. We win it as a team.’
Given his loyalty to those who took England to these finals – and Rogers was a key cog during the autumn qualifiers – it felt like the German wanted to reward that group. It still does, in many ways. Rogers has done nothing wrong.
But when Bellingham was presented with the chance to shine in Orlando, he radiated star quality. He closed down a clearance inside 30 seconds – and that set the tone for his and the team’s performance.
‘The energy off the ball set the tone,’ said Tuchel. ‘We have made it clear our DNA is off the ball. I wanted to see Jude in combination with Harry (Kane), Elliot (Anderson) and Declan (Rice). I know what Morgan (Rogers) gives us there. For Jude it was the first time. He buys into these ideas. He has to and he loves to do it. He did it like everyone else on a high level.’
That was off the ball. On it, there were contributions that reminded you why Bellingham exists for the big occasion – a killer pass to send Noni Madueke clear and, later, the dribble that led to England’s penalty for their second goal.
Bellingham may not dominate a contest from minute one to 90, but he does not have to in that position. He showed here that he has the class and confidence to seize the moment.
VERDICT: We suspect that Tuchel may still favour Rogers for the opener, but this felt like Bellingham screaming: try leaving me out after that! The debate will continue, but it should not, Bellingham should start.
Jude Bellingham should start England’s opening game – he exists for the big occasion
Anthony Gordon
So far ahead of Gordon did Marcus Rashford seem after the 1-0 win over New Zealand in Tampa, Gordon’s inclusion here felt more like a chance to get minutes into his legs.
Clearly, he did not agree. From the first minute, Gordon was set on proving a point, not just improving his fitness. He burst in behind Costa Rica’s defence inside 60 seconds and did the same 10 minutes later, this time burning by his full back before pulling back for Rice to turn in the opening goal.
Gordon had a little lull thereafter – that is fair given this was his first start since April – but he found a second wind after half-time. He also kept his discipline by staying wide on the left, which is a preference of Tuchel, and he certainly did not look tired when smashing his 68th-minute penalty into the top left corner.
So impactful was he, it feels like there is now an argument for letting Gordon carry that momentum into Croatia.
VERDICT: Before this game, Tuchel would have absolutely had Rashford in mind for the curtain-raiser. Now, it feels like the toss of a coin. Gordon, much like Bellingham, knew that he had a window to impress, and he jumped right through it. Let him take that feel-good into Dallas.
Anthony Gordon was one of England’s most impressive players against Costa Rica and is going toe-to-toe with Marcus Rashford
John Stones and Ezri Konsa are a natural partnership, which could spell trouble for Marc Guehi
Ezri Konsa/John Stones
It was a surprise to see Marc Guehi not start in Orlando. He, we felt, was the first name on the team-sheet in the back four. Maybe it is that his omission speaks to that, Tuchel not needing any more evidence of the centre-back’s worth. But there was something about the Konsa-Stones partnership that felt right, even if against lesser opposition.
If Stones is fit, you have to play him. He was England’s best performer in the Euro 2024 final defeat by Spain, and Tuchel places great stock in memory of that display. He wants Stones to be the same player for him. He will only be that by allowing him to build rhythm and confidence, which he has done in the two warm-up matches.
Konsa, meanwhile, has never let England down, and he was cool and composed against Costa Rica. His defence-first mindset seems to complement the ball-playing qualities of Stones. Guehi, by contrast, is a hybrid of that pair.
VERDICT: It would be a shock were Guehi not to start, but Tuchel has given himself a bit of a headache by looking at a partnership who seem so naturally suited to one another.
