For Thomas Tuchel, the unexpected transfer of Anthony Gordon from Newcastle to Barcelona brings an unexpected perk. “It’s fantastic,” remarked the England manager. “It’s such a delightful opportunity for me to attend matches. I wholeheartedly encourage everyone to visit wonderful places.”
After England’s inaugural World Cup warm-up match—a 1-0 victory against New Zealand in Tampa—Tuchel exhibited a light-hearted demeanor, despite expressing discontent regarding certain performance aspects. The match was overwhelmingly one-sided; however, his squad consistently struggled with their final touches. Tuchel voiced his frustration over the players’ lack of positional discipline, noting that their formation was excessively narrow, particularly during the first half.
In response to the lackluster play, Tuchel opted to completely revamp the lineup for the second half—emphasizing load management—bringing in Gordon to replace Marcus Rashford on the left wing. This substitution creates a peculiar dynamic, as Rashford recently wrapped up a commendable loan season at Barcelona from Manchester United and is eager to make the switch permanent. United’s €30 million (£26 million) option-to-buy clause is non-negotiable, despite Barcelona’s attempts to renegotiate. Tuchel chuckled, reflecting on the situation, “It’s an interesting twist. We’ll see what decision Barcelona and Marcus make.”
Gordon’s transfer significantly enhances the competition between him and Rashford, aligning with one of Tuchel’s core principles for achieving World Cup success—clear positional roles. While flexibility has its place, Tuchel emphasizes that players should occupy their optimal positions, avoiding mismatches in roles. His strategy indicates a desire for two players per outfield spot, setting the stage for direct competition. As the team prepares for their opening match against Croatia in Dallas on June 17, the battle between Gordon and Rashford is one of the most intriguing.
Tuchel has shown unwavering support for Rashford since taking on the head coach role. He made the decision to reinstate Rashford from the international sidelines in March 2025 when he announced his first squad for the qualifiers against Albania and Latvia, despite Rashford’s limited playtime on loan at Aston Villa. Tuchel could have postponed giving Rashford another chance until the June international window, but he chose to act sooner, hoping to ignite a positive spark in their relationship. He aimed to demonstrate his belief that Rashford could return to his peak performance levels—a classic example of Tuchel’s effective man-management approach, focused on building momentum. Whenever Rashford has been fit, he has consistently been included in the squad.
Against New Zealand, Rashford was in fine form. Much like Gordon, he prefers to cut inside onto his dominant right foot. However, did his presence contribute to the structural issues Tuchel lamented? Still, Rashford showcased enough talent to likely be deemed England’s standout player, creating a game-high five chances. On the downside, his shooting was a concern; in a couple of opportunities, he needed to be quicker and more precise. Conversely, Gordon struggled to make an impact during his 45 minutes on the pitch.
Tuchel’s distribution of roles among his squad is meticulously structured on various levels. He pointed out that a subset of players is tasked with “finishing matches for us, setting the energy levels, and embracing their roles while competing for positions.” He indicated there are “14 or 15 potential starters.” Key players appear to include Jordan Pickford, Reece James, Marc Guéhi, Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Bukayo Saka, and Harry Kane. This leaves plenty of competition not only between Gordon and Rashford but throughout the team.
Regarding Jude Bellingham’s fight for the starting No. 10 position, Tuchel confirmed, “Yes, he is. He is among the group of starters… he’s aware of that. In my mind, there are 14 or 15 legitimate starters, and Jude is one of them.”
Bellingham’s primary competition is Morgan Rogers, who started against New Zealand but struggled to make an impression. After Bellingham replaced him in the second half, he quickly made his mark, demonstrating vibrant energy and his signature dominance on the ball. It seemed he was eager to prove himself after missing the March internationals while recovering from a significant hamstring injury. Tuchel appreciates Rogers for his off-the-ball work, but Bellingham’s status as a global superstar adds another layer of intrigue to the selection dilemma.
Tuchel plans to refine his selection further during the friendly against Costa Rica in Orlando on Wednesday, making it particularly interesting to observe which players will receive the majority of playing time, as he won’t field two separate teams this time.
There is no question regarding who holds the top spot on Tuchel’s starting lineup. Kane extended his record England tally to 79 with the decisive goal against New Zealand, raising concerns about the team’s reliance on him for scoring; competition appears scarce. When questioned about the sustainability of this reliance, Tuchel humorously referenced Mick McCarthy, saying, “He can,” before affirming, “He absolutely can. I understand the concern, but I’m not worried. We will excel in set pieces, and as spaces open against teams aiming to defeat us, we will perform well.”
