England's 4-2 win over Croatia in Dallas was a thrilling start to their World Cup campaign, but it also exposed fragile defence and lingering selection questions for head coach Thomas Tuchel.
Tuchel, who took over from Sir Gareth Southgate after the last World Cup, has built an exciting attacking side but faces tough calls on defence and the left wing. In the opening match, he chose Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa over Manchester City's Marc Guehi to partner John Stones, and started new Barcelona signing Anthony Gordon on the left flank, leaving Marcus Rashford on the bench. Rashford came on to score the fourth goal, while Konsa was caught out of position for Croatia's second equaliser. The team also relied on a vital save from Jordan Pickford when the score was 3-2.
“Explaining Thomas Tuchel's selection dilemmas at the World Cup, including Rashford's and Guehi's futures.”
Tuchel's selection habits help explain his choices. Of England's 15 games under him, Konsa has started 10 (second only to Pickford and Harry Kane with 12 each) and played 933 minutes, while Guehi has started only 7 and played 504 minutes. Tuchel was in charge at Chelsea when Guehi was sold to Crystal Palace in July 2021, suggesting a long-standing preference. Former England striker Chris Sutton argues Tuchel should drop Stones and pair Konsa with Guehi, saying Stones 'doesn't even have a club for next season yet' and lacks the athleticism of the other two.
Rashford's future adds another layer. Barcelona decided not to trigger the £26m clause to make his loan permanent, so on 1 July he will officially return to Manchester United with a £325,000-a-week contract that has two years left. United head coach Michael Carrick said in April no decision had been made on his future, but minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to reduce wage costs, and United gave Rashford's number 10 shirt to Matheus Cunha last season. Previous boss Ruben Amorim exiled Rashford to train separately, but a new Fifa-fifpro agreement means any player excluded from the main group can demand release and contract pay-off, making ostracism unlikely.
Meanwhile, England's half-time interviews have become a talking point. Assistant coach Anthony Barry gave a brutally honest assessment to ITV, calling England's first half 'complicated and confusing' with 'fearful patterns' and players not following instructions. The FA have no plans to change and will continue with Barry conducting the half-time interviews. Tuchel gave the green light for Barry to continue, viewing it as part of their commitment to broadcast partners.
For UK readers, these dilemmas matter because England's World Cup run – their next match is against Ghana in Boston on Tuesday – depends on Tuchel getting his selections right. The defensive partnership and left-wing starter will be scrutinised, while Rashford's club situation could affect his focus. Barry's unfiltered interviews also offer a rare glimpse into the thinking inside the camp.
Q: Why did Tuchel pick Konsa over Guehi? Tuchel values Konsa's physical and footballing attributes, and has started him in 10 of his 15 games in charge – more than Guehi (7 starts). Tuchel also sold Guehi when at Chelsea, indicating a preference.
Q: What is the latest on Marcus Rashford's future? Barcelona did not trigger the £26m permanent clause, so Rashford returns to Manchester United on 1 July. His £325,000-a-week contract runs for two more years, but his wage and the club's desire to cut costs, plus a new Fifa rule on player exile, make a return complicated.
Q: Will Anthony Barry continue the half-time interviews? Yes. The FA have no plans to stop him, and Tuchel supports the approach. Barry will conduct the half-time interviews throughout the tournament, as long as the host broadcaster requests them.
What happens next? England face Ghana in Boston on Tuesday, where Tuchel must decide whether to stick with Konsa or bring in Guehi, and whether to start Gordon or Rashford. The squad will then head to Atlanta for the last 32 round on 1 July, when Rashford officially becomes a United player again. United's summer plans are being made assuming he will leave, but any exit must navigate his huge wages and the new Fifa-fifpro protections.