Thomas Tuchel has set up a series of one-on-one battles for starting places in his England squad, with the left-wing position between Marcus Rashford and Anthony Gordon emerging as one of the most intriguing contests. The England manager spoke after Saturday's 1-0 win over New Zealand in Tampa, where he changed the entire XI at half-time, with Gordon replacing Rashford.
Gordon's Barcelona Move Adds Spice
The competition has been heightened by Gordon's surprise transfer from Newcastle to Barcelona for €70m plus €10m in add-ons. Rashford, who has just finished a successful loan spell at Barcelona from Manchester United, is hoping to make the move permanent with a €30m option-to-buy clause. Tuchel acknowledged the irony, saying: "It is a slight quirk. Let's see what Barcelona decides and what Marcus decides."
Tuchel's Positional Clarity
Tuchel's blueprint for World Cup glory relies on positional clarity. He wants players in their best roles, avoiding square pegs in round holes. This has created a squad where every outfield position has two contenders. Rashford was probably England's best player against New Zealand, creating five chances, though his shooting was wayward. Gordon struggled to make an impact in his 45 minutes.
Other Key Battles
Beyond the left-wing, Jude Bellingham is competing with Morgan Rogers for the No. 10 role. Bellingham replaced Rogers at half-time and impressed with his energy and incision. Tuchel said: "In my head there are 14, 15 proper starters and Jude is one of them." Rogers, who started, did not shine but Tuchel values his work out of possession.
Kane's Goal-Scoring Burden
Harry Kane scored his 79th England goal, the winner against New Zealand. Tuchel dismissed concerns about over-reliance on Kane, saying: "He can. He absolutely can. I understand the concern. I am not concerned. We will be strong in set pieces and when the spaces open up against teams who want to beat us, we will be good."
England face Costa Rica in Orlando on Wednesday, where Tuchel will fine-tune his selections. The nailed-on starters appear to be Jordan Pickford, Reece James, Marc Guéhi, Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Bukayo Saka, and Harry Kane, leaving several positions up for grabs.
