The England XI Tuchel should pick in NZ friendly – with three big issues to solve
Acclimatisation has been the England buzzword and neatly covers Saturday’s opening fixture against New Zealand. The steamy environment in Florida is intended to get England gently up to speed, as are New Zealand following a heavy defeat to Haiti on Wednesday.
For this mock exam Thomas Tuchel is without Arsenal’s English champions Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke delaying their arrival until the weekend. So expect some shuffling and a raft of substitutions in Tampa.
This period is ultimately about refinement, identifying who gets the nod in the few contested positions remaining, left wing, centre back and the No 10 spot. If the squad numbers are revealing, Marcus Rashford, 11, trumps Anthony Gordon, 18, on the left, an ironic twist to Barcelona’s recent market moves.
By the same token, the award of the No 5 shirt to John Stones would appear to be bad news for Ezri Konsa were it not for the No 2 jersey passing to the Aston Villa defender. Does this mean No 24 Reece James starts on the bench? Maybe the numbers game is a Tuchell red herring to blur the lines for any spies operating in the vicinity of West Palm Beach.
Konsa’s Villa teammate Morgan Rogers would be equally relieved were this the case since he will wear No 14. The prized No 10 is on the back of Jude Bellingham. Only one of Rogers and Bellingham will start against Croatia in Texas.
The centre of things
The absence of Rice on Saturday brings Kobbie Mainoo into view. Mainoo did not shine as a substitute against Uruguay in March and disappointed as a starter in the succeeding defeat to Japan. Against that, he excelled for Manchester United and learned to a degree from the defensive errors against Japan by improving his positioning.
Required to cover more ground when paired with the slow-moving Casemiro, Mainoo was less of a defensive liability in the run-in, which, coupled with his nimble talent for taking the ball in small spaces and breaking explosively, edged out Adam Wharton and James Garner.
With Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, part of a five-man temporary training unit, expected to feature at some point in the friendlies, expect the middle of the park to have an experimental feel.
Fronting up up front
The same could be said of the attack. No Saka or Madueke means both Rashford and Gordon could start on the wings, or share duties with reserve squad members Rio Ngumoha and Ethan Nwaneri.
Rashford had a B+ season at Barcelona, enjoying some moments while operating largely as back-up to the more reliable Rafinha. The goals he scored at Newcastle in the Champions League group stage and in the recent Clasico were typical examples of good Rashford. Bad Rashford, however, is equally familiar, trying that bit too hard, over running the ball, hitting the wall.
Gordon is less spectacular but has greater consistency. His principal problem is a reluctance to trust his left foot. This means he can be easier to defend against on the left, pushed sideways or backwards instead of attacking the byline.
The lack of penetration down the left is a problem that might ultimately be solved by Eze. For now Rashford is arguably ahead of the man who bounced him at Barca after what was a rather muted season at Newcastle.
Baller or battler at the back?
A fit John Stones picks himself. His reading of the game and his capacity for carrying the ball into midfield make him an exemplar of the ball-playing centre-half not traditionally associated with England.
Given his brittle frame, Tuchel will be mindful of over-using Stones. Conversely, his lack of game-time hitherto demands time alongside Marc Guehi, which means deploying Konsa at right-back on Saturday or the bench.
And finally…
Bellingham or Rogers? The former has the higher peak, the latter greater efficiency embellished by lightening bolts. Rogers’ work rate and goal threat are hard to ignore and fit perfectly the Tuchel aesthetic.
Bellingham is the soloist, equally powerful and dextrous. But can he take instruction, sacrifice himself for the team? The friendlies in Florida are arguably more crucial for him than any in the squad.
My England XI to face New Zealand (4-2-1-3): Pickford, James, Stones, Guehi, O’Reilly, Anderson, Mainoo, Bellingham, Rashford, Kane, Gordon
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