Punditry Erupts as Tuchel Set to Axe Guehi for World Cup Opener

The football world has descended on Thomas Tuchel's defensive plans ahead of England's World Cup campaign, with reports suggesting the Three Lions boss will bench Marc Guehi for Wednesday's Group L encounter with Croatia in Dallas.

England's opening fixture against their group rivals precedes matches against Ghana and Panama as they hunt their first major tournament triumph in 60 years. The nation remains third favourites for the competition, having reached back-to-back European Championship finals and the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 before falling at the quarter-final stage four years ago.

Tuchel inherited the role following Sir Gareth Southgate's exit, tasked with finally delivering silverware. Yet his first selection decision appears to have ruffled feathers across the punditry establishment.

Word has it the German coach intends to partner John Stones with Ezri Konsa at centre-back, seeking a more commanding, set-piece-dominant pairing. This would leave Guehi—a standout performer at Euro 2024 and fresh off an outstanding campaign at Crystal Palace before his move to Manchester City—on the sidelines.

Alan Shearer wasted little time expressing his bewilderment. "If you believe the reports, it looks like it's going to be John Stones and Ezri Konsa so Marc Guehi would be the one to miss out," the Match of the Day pundit explained on The Rest is Football. "I would start Guehi and Konsa, just because of Stones' lack of football—he didn't play much this season and this is obviously a very important game. It will be a big surprise if Guehi is left out. Not many people wouldn't have started Guehi in this first game."

Gary Lineker echoed those sentiments emphatically. "I would certainly start Marc Guehi," the former striker insisted. "If Stones is fit I would start him as well."

Joe Cole, who earned 56 England caps between 2001 and 2010, proved equally dismissive of the plan. "For me Marc Guehi is the number one centre-half in the squad," Cole declared. "John Stones is a fantastic player and if he can get to the levels he's got to before he's England's best defender. But Guehi was incredible this season. I find it strange that they're even talking about not playing him."

Micah Richards, the former England full-back, sided with the consensus whilst offering measured praise for the alternatives. "I would play Marc Guehi and John Stones—they complement each other really well," Richards said. "Guehi is good on the ball but he's also dependable and reads the game really well. For the team's balance those two would work. Having said that, Ezri Konsa never lets you down. I trust all three of them to be honest but I would go with Guehi and Stones."

The pundits' united front paints a picture of bafflement at Tuchel's reported thinking, particularly given Stones' limited minutes for Manchester City in his final campaign. Whether the England boss sticks to his guns or bows to the weight of expert opinion remains to be seen.