Bellingham at number 10? Will Saka start? It's decision time for Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel's England have won both of their World Cup warm-up games, against New Zealand and Costa Rica England's final friendly before the World Cup was delayed 's Inter&Co Stadium – but when it finally got under way it was well worth the wait for head coach Thomas Tuchel. Tuchel was unhappy with England's lack of intensity in their opening friendly against New Zealand in Tampa, the 1-0 win effectively a glorified training session as he fielded two different teams in each half. The meeting with Costa Rica was a sharp contrast, a fierce physical test with plenty of helpful pointers for Tuchel before England face Croatia in Dallas on 17 June. When asked 5 Live after the game whether his starting line-up on Wednesday would be the same as for that opening group game, he answered simply: "Maybe." The German then added: "But we will always keep our cards in our hand. We will not give any decisions away because my thoughts at the moment are not for Croatia, they're for here today. "It was a very strong line-up but it was a very strong bench as well." So what will Tuchel be considering before he names his starting line-up? England impress to beat Costa Rica in final World Cup warm-up Is England v Costa Rica delay a sign of things to come? Tuchel has spent recent months deflecting debate about whether Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham or Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa should take England's number 10 role when the stakes are at their highest. The German boss has seemed happy to foster healthy competition between the two boyhood friends, but now decision time is coming. Rogers has been the player in possession, Tuchel keeping faith with the 23-year-old as Bellingham endured a mixed season at the Santiago Bernabeu, interrupted . Tuchel started with Rogers against New Zealand, although nothing could be read into that as Bellingham came on for the second half and took on the captaincy. There are effectively 14 or 15 "starters" that Tuchel has in mind within England's squad, and both are in that group. But unless Tuchel decides to play Rogers on the left against Croatia, only one of the duo will be in that particular line-up. It will be arguably the biggest decision of Tuchel's reign, and there was no doubt Bellingham resembled a man on a mission against Costa Rica. He produced a superb through ball to Noni Madueke in the first half, which the Arsenal forward wasted .
Original story by BBC Sport • View original source
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