For Thomas Tuchel, the unexpected transfer of Anthony Gordon from Newcastle to Barcelona presents an intriguing advantage. “It is fantastic,” the England manager remarked. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for me to witness matches. I can only urge people to visit beautiful places.”
Following England’s first World Cup warm-up game—a 1-0 victory against New Zealand in Tampa—Tuchel was in a lighthearted mood, although he expressed dissatisfaction with certain aspects of his team’s performance. The match was heavily tilted in England’s favor, yet the execution during critical moments often fell flat. Tuchel voiced concerns about his players’ lack of positional discipline, resulting in a constricted formation, particularly during the opening half.
In a bid to address these issues, Tuchel made a complete overhaul of his lineup for the second half—prioritizing load management—with Gordon stepping in for Marcus Rashford on the left wing. This situation is certainly unique, given Rashford’s recent loan spell at Barcelona from Manchester United, where he enjoyed a successful season and is eager to secure a permanent deal. United has stated that the €30 million (£26 million) buyout clause in his loan is non-negotiable, while Barcelona has expressed a desire to renegotiate. Thus, one can only imagine Rashford’s feelings as Barcelona invested €70 million plus €10 million in add-ons for his direct competition in the England squad. “It is a bit of an odd scenario,” Tuchel noted with a grin. “We’ll see how Barcelona handles it and what Marcus chooses to do.”
The key advantage for both Tuchel and England stemming from Gordon’s transfer is the intensification of competition between him and Rashford. This aligns with Tuchel’s fundamental strategy for achieving World Cup success—emphasizing positional clarity. While flexibility has its place, Tuchel has indicated that it should not be excessive. He aims for his players to occupy their optimal positions, avoiding the situation of forcing the best eleven individuals together, reminiscent of the Lampard/Gerrard debate. Generally, he intends to have two players competing for each outfield position, effectively creating a series of head-to-head contests. One of the most challenging decisions before the opener against Croatia in Dallas on June 17 is determining who will prevail between Gordon and Rashford.
Tuchel has consistently demonstrated his support for Rashford since taking the helm. He made the decision to recall him from international absence in March 2025, naming him in his first squad for the qualifiers against Albania and Latvia. At that time, Rashford was on loan at Aston Villa, where he had made just one start in the Premier League without scoring. Tuchel could have opted to await the next international window in June before working with him, but he chose to act sooner. He wanted to ignite a spark of positivity within Rashford and foster their relationship, illustrating his belief that the player could reclaim his peak form. This approach exemplifies Tuchel’s adeptness in man-management, focused on building momentum. Whenever Rashford has been fit, he has always been included in the squad.
Against New Zealand, Rashford showcased his intent. Like Gordon, he prefers to cut in onto his dominant right foot. Did he contribute to the structural issues that Tuchel lamented? Despite this, Rashford stood out as perhaps England’s most impressive player, creating a match-high five chances. However, an area of concern was his shooting; on a couple of occasions, he could have been quicker and more precise. Conversely, Gordon struggled to make an impact during his half of play.
Tuchel’s assignment of roles within the squad is clearly defined. There exists a group of players designated to “finish games for us, maintain the right energy, and assume the role of setting the standards while competing for positions.” He mentioned that there are “14 or 15 potential starters.” The guaranteed selections seem to include Jordan Pickford, Reece James, Marc Guéhi, Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Bukayo Saka, and Harry Kane. Thus, there is considerable competition ahead—not just between Gordon and Rashford.
Is Jude Bellingham in contention for the starting No. 10 position? “Yes, he is,” Tuchel confirmed. “He is among the [group of] starters… he is aware of that. In my mind, there are 14 or 15 genuine starters, and Jude is one of them.”
Bellingham’s contender is Morgan Rogers, who did not particularly impress in the match against New Zealand. Bellingham took his place in the second half, displaying flashes of brilliance and abundant energy, demonstrating his characteristic dominance with the ball. He seemed eager to make an impression after missing the March internationals while recovering from a significant hamstring injury. Tuchel appreciates Rogers, especially for his off-the-ball work, but there’s a reason Bellingham is a global sensation. The decision between these two is yet another significant conundrum.
Tuchel will refine his strategies further during the friendly match against Costa Rica in Orlando on Wednesday. It will be fascinating to observe which players receive the majority of playing time, as he intends to avoid using two entirely different lineups this time.
One thing is certain—Harry Kane’s name is the first on Tuchel’s team sheet. With the winning goal against New Zealand, he brought his record tally for England to 79. However, there are concerns that the team may be overly reliant on him for scoring; competition for goals is lacking. When asked if this can continue, given Kane’s consistent scoring, Tuchel channeled his inner Mick McCarthy, stating, “He can,” adding, “He absolutely can. I understand the concern. I am not worried. We will excel in set pieces and when spaces open up against teams that genuinely aim to defeat us, we will perform well.”
