Michael Owen proposes radical plan for England involving substitutes ahead of Croatia match

Michael Owen has proposed a radical plan for England ahead of the Three Lions' match against Croatia.

England kick off tonight from 9pm in their first World Cup fixture, with Owen suggesting Thomas Tuchel could use his substitutes as an ace up his sleeve.

The former England striker recommended changing all of the attackers around Harry Kane at half-time due to the extreme heat.

He recommended keeping on the Three Lions talisman and playing around England's skipper.

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He suggested that due to the debate over who to play and where to play them, Owen wrote in the Mail that England should just "play them all".

The former Ballon d'Or winner recommended telling Anthony Gordon to run flat out for the first half, then replacing him with someone like Marcus Rashford, who can do the same.

This goes with the No 10 position, with either Jude Bellingham or Morgan Rogers, advising that the pair "run [themselves] into the ground".

Owen explained that if he knew he had only 45 minutes on the pitch, he would give it his all, so the deployment could serve as motivation for the players.

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With five substitutions at Tuchel's disposal, the former England striker advised using the attacking changes to exploit weary defenders in the baking heat.

The England manager has star power at his disposal across the pitch and urged his players to be "brave" in their match against Croatia.

Tuchel said: "I think we should play brave and play to the strengths of the players.

"I feel clearly that the players want it and that it helps us, and that they are successful in club football like this.

"They compete in the strongest league, most of them. The others who are not in the league compete in the highest level in Europe and Champions League and they play in brave and active teams.

"That's what we try because it makes them comfortable.

"I think it makes things exciting and creates a certain energy, and we need a connection with our fans, who are here, with the fans at home, to create something special."

Tuchel praised the nature of the opposition with Croatia in front of England, who knocked the Three Lions out of the World Cup in 2018.

He said: "It is a very difficult start.

"First of all, it is an experienced team, an experienced coach, in tournament knockout football. It's an experienced group.

"It's just a top football nation and a very strong opponent. There is no doubt."

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