Five England Stars Who'd Walk Into Any International Starting XI

Why does the conversation around England keep circling back to doom and gloom when we've got genuine world-beaters in the ranks? The reality is refreshingly straightforward: Bellingham and Kane are operating at the elite level, full stop. Neither plays in the Premier League, yet both would slot seamlessly into the starting eleven of pretty much every nation at this tournament.

Then there's the supporting cast. Rice, Saka, and James—that's five players out of your opening XI who'd command automatic selection elsewhere. No debate required.

Beyond that foundation sits an intriguing mix of prospects. Is Anderson simply a hyped-up £120m English midfielder, or does he represent genuine quality? Has O'Reilly been overpromoted, or is he the real deal? Morgan Rogers carries the Pep fairy dust, sure, but Barcelona didn't splash out on a princess lookalike for nothing. Guehi and Stones—Pep paid serious money for both, and both the eye test and the numbers suggest they operate at the highest level.

Every other squad faces equivalent headaches. Spain's Rodri, Yamal, and Torres come with question marks. France wrestle with midfield issues and Deschamps himself. Argentina's younger contingent—Martinez, Romero, McAllister, Alvarez—haven't exactly been lighting it up lately. The grass isn't greener elsewhere.

The genuine advantage? England now has a manager willing to make in-game adjustments. That matters. Tuchel's won things before, and that experience counts for something.

The tactical blueprint emerging is sound: Gordon's pressing intensity to start, then unleash Rashford and Watkins against tired legs. That's proper squad depth—two rapid, in-form goalscorers waiting on the bench. Costa Rica provided an encouraging blueprint; replicate that intensity against Croatia, Ghana, and Panama, and topping the group becomes straightforward business. The knockout rounds demand sharper finishing against the heavyweight opposition, but the foundations are solid.

One persistent concern remains: the creative midfielder gap. Tournament-winning teams typically possess one. That said, England finally has a legitimate number six—remarkable it took everyone this long to spot a £100m English holding midfielder performing in the Premier League week in, week out.

The path to the final potentially avoids France and Spain. That's a genuine advantage. Ticket logistics present the real challenge: Mexico City and Miami essentially become away days, but that's a different problem entirely.

So here's the thing: English supporters are actually more self-critical than most nations. "It's Coming Home" gets deployed ironically far more often than genuinely. Abroad, observers reckon we're underrating ourselves again. They're probably right.