Thomas Tuchel doesn't care about your reputation. He doesn't care about what you did at Euro 2024, and he certainly doesn't care about the media consensus.
As England prepares to face Croatia in Dallas for their 2026 World Cup opener, the big talking point isn't just Jude Bellingham returning to the starting lineup. It's the shocking revelation that Marc Guehi, a standout performer for Manchester City and a locked-in starter in most fans' minds, is expected to begin the tournament on the bench.
It's a brutal call, but it perfectly illustrates how Tuchel operates. He prioritizes tactical profiles over public opinion.
The Audition Is Over and Physicality Won
For months, the assumption was that Guehi and John Stones would form the central defensive partnership. Instead, reports out of the England camp reveal Tuchel is leaning toward a pairing of John Stones and Ezri Konsa.
The reasoning isn't form. It's raw profile. Tuchel wants more height, weight, and pure physical dominance in his backline to combat Croatia's technical but savvy attacking units. Konsa and Stones give him that extra physical edge.
But this decision introduces a massive structural risk.
Both Stones and Konsa are naturally right-footed. Guehi has spent his international career anchoring the left central defender spot, providing a natural passing angle out of the back. By dropping Guehi, England sacrifices natural backline balance for muscle. If Croatia opts to press aggressively high up the pitch, watching how Stones or Konsa handles building possession from the left side will be the tactical battle of the match.
The Real Madrid Problem and the Fight for the Ten Role
While Guehi faces a cold seat on the bench, Jude Bellingham is tracking toward a starting role, but don't assume he has a free pass anymore.
Since Tuchel took the reins in January 2025, Bellingham's position hasn't been the automated guarantee it was under Gareth Southgate. Fitness issues and a staggering rise in squad depth mean the Real Madrid star has only started four games under the German manager.
Tuchel has openly admitted that England now has "14 or 15 potential starters" who can legitimately demand a spot in the first XI.
"Yes, he has a fight on his hands," Tuchel noted when discussing Bellingham's role. "He is one of the starters, he knows that, but we now have 14 or 15 potential starters in this group."
The main reason Bellingham can't rest on his laurels is Morgan Rogers. The Aston Villa midfielder has become Tuchel’s golden boy, featuring in 12 of England's 13 matches under the new regime and playing every single minute of the eight World Cup qualifiers. Rogers offers a tactical discipline and positional consistency that Tuchel loves.
Bellingham’s second-half performance in the warm-up win over New Zealand, where he showed incredible bite and even wore the captain's armband briefly, looks to have secured his spot for Wednesday. But the leash is short.
What the Expected Lineup Looks Like
Tuchel is sticking with his trusted 4-2-3-1 base, a formation designed to provide defensive stability while allowing the front four to rotate with complete freedom.
Jordan Pickford remains the undisputed number one choice in goal. Across the backline, Reece James takes the right-back slot, with Nico O'Reilly expected to handle the left-back duties. The controversial Stones-Konsa partnership fills the middle.
In midfield, Declan Rice provides the anchor next to Elliot Anderson, who has quickly played his way into Tuchel's preferred double-pivot. This allows Bellingham to occupy the creative space as the attacking midfielder, flanked by Noni Madueke on the right—filling in for a Bukayo Saka who is still building back to peak match fitness—and Anthony Gordon on the left. Harry Kane, as always, leads the line.
Expected England Starting XI
- Goalkeeper: Jordan Pickford
- Defenders: Reece James, Ezri Konsa, John Stones, Nico O'Reilly
- Defensive Midfielders: Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson
- Attacking Midfielders: Noni Madueke, Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon
- Striker: Harry Kane
The Next Tactical Steps
With the opening match against Croatia just days away, England's training sessions in Texas will focus entirely on defensive shifting. If you are tracking this team’s progression, look closely at how Konsa adapts to the left-sided center-back position during early possession phases, and watch how quickly Bellingham drops to assist Rice when possession is lost. The talent is undeniable, but Tuchel's structural gamble will define England's opening tournament footprint.
