Thomas Tuchel has all but named eight of his England starters for the World Cup opener against Croatia on June 17 in Dallas, with only three positions still up for grabs — and Jude Bellingham looks to have seized his chance after a dazzling display against New Zealand.
Speaking after a laboured friendly win in sweltering Tampa, the England manager admitted he has “14 potential starters,” but made clear that eight are nailed on: Jordan Pickford, Reece James, Marc Guehi, Nico O’Reilly, Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane. The remaining six are vying for three roles — right-sided centre-half, left wing and the No10 position.
“Tuchel names eight England starters for Croatia match; Bellingham impresses in friendly to stake No10 claim.”
That means a straight shoot-out between John Stones and Ezri Konsa to partner Guehi, and a battle on the left between Marcus Rashford and Anthony Gordon. But the most intriguing contest is for the No10 shirt, where Bellingham faces Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers.
Rogers started the first half against New Zealand, with both sides playing 45 minutes. Bellingham took over after the break and, as Tuchel later noted, “had something to prove.” The Real Madrid midfielder did just that. He looked “super fit, sharp, glided across the pitch,” and was “comfortably England’s best player, a class apart,” according to the Mirror. He also wore the captain’s armband — not for any deep tactical reason, but because he had the most caps of the second-half XI; at 22, Bellingham already has 47.
Tuchel, who has not always struck the right note when discussing Bellingham, was glowing this time. “He looks good, he looks good in training,” the manager said. “I think he is actually at the moment in a sweet spot because he had his break and has the hunger to be back on the pitch.” Bellingham’s freshness, the Mirror reports, comes from a recent hamstring injury that kept him out of March’s squad, leaving him determined and not run into the ground.
With Rice and Saka among the Arsenal players unavailable for the New Zealand friendly, Tuchel got a look at his wider squad. But the core is clear. The questions remain: Stones or Konsa? Rashford or Gordon? And, despite Rogers’ strong qualifying campaign, can anyone really displace Bellingham when it matters?