Jude Bellingham appears poised to secure a starting place in England’s opening World Cup match against Croatia after Thomas Tuchel offered the clearest indication yet of his preferred line-up.
The England manager suggested earlier this week that he already had most of his starting XI in mind for the tournament opener, and Wednesday’s 3-0 victory over Costa Rica may have revealed several important clues.
Sources close to the squad believe the side that began the final warm-up fixture in Orlando closely resembles the team Tuchel intends to field when England kick off their World Cup campaign next week.
If that proves accurate, Bellingham has won the battle with Morgan Rogers for the coveted attacking midfield role behind the striker.
The debate over who should occupy the No.10 position has been one of the major talking points surrounding England’s preparations.
Bellingham’s pedigree, experience and ability to deliver on the biggest stage have made him a natural favourite. The Real Madrid midfielder remains one of the most influential figures in the squad and has repeatedly produced decisive moments for his country.
However, Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers has emerged as a genuine challenger following a breakthrough season that elevated his status within the national team setup.
Despite Rogers’ rise, the latest indications suggest Bellingham remains Tuchel’s preferred option heading into the tournament.
Elsewhere, England’s defensive hierarchy may also be shifting.
The pairing of John Stones and Ezri Konsa started against Costa Rica and could now be in line to form England’s first-choice central defensive partnership.
That would represent a surprise development given the expectation that Marc Guehi would retain his place after establishing himself as a key figure for England over recent tournaments.
Tuchel is believed to value the physical presence offered by Stones and Konsa, although questions remain over the balance of a partnership featuring two naturally right-footed defenders.
One of the other major talking points concerns Bukayo Saka.
The Arsenal winger started on the bench against Costa Rica, with Noni Madueke handed an opportunity on the right side of attack.
Tuchel has previously acknowledged that Saka’s workload will need careful management following fitness concerns that affected the closing stages of his club season.
There were fears at Arsenal that the England international could miss the final weeks of the campaign because of a lower-leg muscular issue, and his condition continues to be monitored closely.
Encouragingly for England, Saka is believed to be making steady progress.
Sources suggest that if England were facing a knockout match tomorrow, the Arsenal star would have a strong chance of starting. The challenge for Tuchel is deciding how much risk to take during the group stage.
That uncertainty could open the door for Madueke, a player the England manager clearly trusts and values highly.
With the Croatia clash fast approaching, Tuchel appears close to finalising his plans.
And unless there is a late surprise, Bellingham looks set to be one of the first names on the teamsheet when England begin their quest for World Cup glory.
