Tuchel Weighs 2 Key England Calls for June 17 Croatia Opener
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 11
Tuchel Weighs 2 Key England Calls for June 17 Croatia Opener
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 11
Summary
June 17 is the target date for Thomas Tuchel’s final England decisions after 2 warm-up wins, with the biggest calls centering on Jude Bellingham or Morgan Rogers in the No. 10 role and Anthony Gordon or Marcus Rashford on the left.
Costa Rica gave Tuchel the sharper test he wanted after a flat 1-0 win over New Zealand, and Bellingham strengthened his case with a key pass, slick build-up to England’s second goal and a display that “will take some leaving out.”
Gordon also boosted his chances by creating Declan Rice’s opener and scoring the penalty for England’s second, while Bukayo Saka remains first choice on the right if his Achilles issue allows him enough minutes.
Harry Kane’s roaming role again looked central to Tuchel’s plan, and John Stones’ growing fitness has reopened the question of England’s preferred centre-back pairing before the Croatia opener in Dallas.