Thomas Tuchel and his squad were forced to shelter in their team hotel for an hour before kick-off as violent storms rattled Orlando's Inter&Co Stadium, delaying England's final World Cup warm-up. When the rain finally cleared and the match got under way, the Three Lions delivered a 3-0 victory over Costa Rica — a result that sharpens the biggest decision facing the German boss before they face Croatia on 17 June.
Tuchel had been unhappy with England's lack of intensity in the previous friendly against New Zealand, a 1-0 win he described as a glorified training session. Costa Rica proved a fierce physical test, one that gave him plenty of helpful pointers. So will the same starting XI that lined up in Orlando also begin the Group L opener in Dallas? "Maybe," Tuchel answered when asked by BBC Radio 5 Live. "But we will always keep our cards in our hand. We will not give any decisions away because my thoughts at the moment are not for Croatia, they're for here today. It was a very strong line-up but it was a very strong bench as well."
“England beat Costa Rica 3-0 as Tuchel faces Bellingham-Rogers number 10 dilemma before Croatia World Cup opener.”
At the heart of Tuchel's dilemma is the number 10 role. Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers, boyhood friends, have been competing for it all year. Rogers has been the player in possession, while Bellingham's season at Real Madrid was interrupted by shoulder and hamstring injuries. Tuchel started Rogers against New Zealand, then handed Bellingham the captaincy for the second half. Against Costa Rica, Bellingham resembled a man on a mission: he produced a superb through ball to Noni Madueke, who wasted the chance by hitting the post after rounding Costa Rica keeper Patrick Sequeira, and later danced past several defenders to set up Eberechi Eze, whose shot was handled for a penalty. Unless Tuchel shifts Rogers to the left, only one of the two will start against Croatia.
Off the pitch, a different kind of debate is brewing. A study of 2,000 England supporters by Jet2 found that 62% feel more confident in the team when wearing red, and 54% believe red should be the tournament colour — against 43% who prefer white. Data shows England win or draw 79% of games in red, compared with 75% in white, and score 1.5 goals per game in red versus 1.4 in white. The famous red shirt from 1966 was the favourite among 43% of fans. Sports psychologist Dan Abrahams said: "Elite football is played under intense pressure, and mindset can make a real difference to how teams carry themselves. It signals intensity and an assertive energy, helping a team look and feel stronger from the word go."
England have been drawn as the home side for the Croatia match and would normally wear white. But with almost two-thirds of the fanbase wanting red, Tuchel may face pressure to swap kits — even as he weighs up the far more consequential question of who takes the number 10 shirt. The World Cup begins on 11 June in Mexico City, and the final will be played at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium on 19 July. England's group also includes Ghana and Panama. But first, Croatia — and a decision that will define Tuchel's reign.