On a day that showcased Thomas Tuchel’s strategy for England’s World Cup opener against Croatia next Wednesday, the players demonstrated their potential when they executed plays with energy and precision.
Despite the limited challenge from Costa Rica, who struggled to maintain possession, Tuchel’s strong lineup provided optimism for the upcoming tournament. His choices, particularly Jude Bellingham starting over Morgan Rogers in the No. 10 position, sparked interest and yielded positive results. Bellingham excelled, while Tuchel’s decision to favor Anthony Gordon over Marcus Rashford paid off with an impressive performance.
Additionally, Tuchel opted for Ezri Konsa in central defense instead of Marc Guéhi and selected Noni Madueke on the right wing, as Bukayo Saka was not fully fit.
The match faced a significant delay of an hour due to severe weather conditions, pushing the kickoff to 5 PM local time after torrential rain and thunderstorms. Nevertheless, England adapted well, maintaining their focus and opening the scoring early with a goal from Declan Rice. Although they could have scored more, they were satisfied with goals from Gordon, who converted a penalty, and Ollie Watkins, who scored late in the match.
Bellingham was in excellent form from the outset, making his first tackle just eight seconds into the game, a reflection of the team’s collective intensity. England’s blistering start was highlighted by Gordon’s aggressive play against Costa Rica’s right-back, Shawn Johnson.
The first goal arose from classic wing play initiated by Gordon, who accelerated past Johnson. He delivered a pullback that set up Rice for a shot that deflected into the net.
Concerns about whether the match would proceed lingered as rain continued to pour from around 1:30 PM local time, accompanied by lightning. By 2:30 PM, the pitch appeared partially waterlogged, but improved drainage ensured that by 3 PM, the field was in playable condition.
England maintained dominant control, exhibiting high tempo despite the heat and humidity while Costa Rica rarely advanced past the halfway mark. Madueke missed a clear opportunity in the 36th minute after a pass from Bellingham, ignited by a flick from Harry Kane. After outmaneuvering goalkeeper Patrick Sequeira, Madueke struck the near post with an open goal in sight, a moment he would later regret.
Kane had already tested Sequeira with a header from a free-kick by Rice in the 22nd minute, while Gordon consistently outpaced Johnson. In first-half stoppage time, Gordon believed he had earned a penalty after feeling contact from behind and falling. The referee, Katja Koroleva, initially awarded the penalty but reversed her decision after consulting with her video assistant, concluding that Gordon had exaggerated the contact.
Frustrated by the incident, Tuchel expressed his displeasure to the fourth official as the teams headed to the locker rooms at halftime. He had further reason for discontent when Jordan Pickford’s errant pass almost led to a chance for Costa Rica, a rare moment of concern for the English side.
Anderson had a notable day, especially as Nottingham Forest rejected a lucrative bid from Manchester City for his services. He appeared undistracted, perhaps motivated to demonstrate his worth. England continued to press for additional goals in the second half, with Madueke narrowly missing the target after receiving a pass from Kane.
Tuchel made six substitutions just after the hour mark, the most significant being Rogers replacing Kane, which shifted Bellingham into a central striker role temporarily. It was Bellingham who assisted Eberechi Eze for a shot that struck the arm of Costa Rica’s substitute Joseth Peraza, prompting Koroleva to award a penalty. Although it seemed Bellingham would take the kick, Tuchel’s assistant, Anthony Barry, indicated that it should go to Gordon, who executed the penalty with confidence. The match concluded with a missed opportunity for Rogers and a final goal from Watkins.
