Bellingham Impresses as Tuchel Weighs England XI vs
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- Jude Bellingham delivered a man-on-a-mission display against Costa Rica, threading a through ball to Noni Madueke and dancing past defenders to set up Eberechi Eze, whose handled shot led to Anthony Gordon's penalty — applying heavy pressure on Morgan Rogers for the number 10 role
- Bukayo Saka remains first-choice on the right but is being carefully managed due to a lingering Achilles tendon injury, with Tuchel easing his minutes through the two friendlies
- Anthony Gordon and Marcus Rashford are battling for the left flank — Gordon scored from the spot and tormented Costa Rica's Shawn Johnson, while Rashford was one of England's brightest players in the New Zealand win and is on loan at Barcelona from Manchester United
- Harry Kane (79 goals in 114 England caps) was given a roving commission reminiscent of his Bayern Munich role, even dropping into his own penalty area to link play before delivering a defense-splitting pass to Gordon
- John Stones staked his claim at centre-half with 63 minutes against Costa Rica after 45 against New Zealand, strengthening his case to partner Marc Guehi after Harry Maguire was left out of Tuchel's World Cup squad
- Tuchel kept his Croatia lineup cards close, telling BBC Radio 5 Live only 'Maybe' when asked if the Costa Rica XI would repeat, adding: 'We will always keep our cards in our hand.'
Why it matters: With 14 or 15 players in Tuchel's core group, the decisions at number 10 (Bellingham vs Rogers), left wing (Gordon vs Rashford), and centre-half (Stones vs Konsa alongside Guehi) will shape England's tactical shape from the first whistle against Croatia on 17 June. Stones' fitness — having been troubled by injury last season at Manchester City and now seeking a new club — is a material variable, and Kane's expanded creative brief could give England a tactical edge against deeper opposition if they progress deep in the tournament.
