Tuchel Set to Bench Guehi for Croatia Opener; Bellingham to Lead Attack

England are into the final stretch of their World Cup preparations, with Croatia standing between them and a successful start to their tournament campaign on Wednesday. The group also includes Ghana and Panama.

The Three Lions warmed up with a 1-0 victory over New Zealand fielding a second-string outfit, before dismantling Costa Rica with a considerably stronger selection midweek. That Costa Rica XI is likely to bear striking similarities to what Thomas Tuchel deploys against the Croatians, though several positions remain in flux – particularly in the centre of defence, the playmaking role, and out wide.

Marc Guehi had appeared a shoo-in for the heart of England's defence following an impressive campaign with both Crystal Palace and Manchester City. The assumption was that either John Stones or Ezri Konsa would slot in alongside him. That calculation, though, has shifted.

Tuchel is now expected to favour the Stones-Konsa partnership instead, with BBC Sport's Sami Mokbel reporting that the manager prioritises the extra physicality both defenders bring to the table compared to Guehi. The challenge for the England boss lies in achieving balance across the back line – Guehi typically operates on the left of the central pairing, whilst both Stones and Konsa are right-footed, a potential tactical wrinkle to navigate.

Up front, there's been little drama. Bellingham appears to have secured the playmaker's berth, edging out Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers for the privilege of orchestrating play in the No.10 position.

The Real Madrid midfielder has taken the opportunity to address the England fanbase directly, urging supporters to back every member of the squad. Bellingham reflected on Euro 2020 shortcomings, suggesting the group hadn't gelled as completely as circumstances demanded. He pointed to the weight of expectation – England had performed well in 2018 and 2022 – which left the team unable to fully savour their victories when they came.

"Everyone's got to feel loved and feel a huge part of the team," Bellingham insisted. "You've always got to be ready, and the guy who scores the winning goal in the World Cup final isn't always the one you'd bet your house on. This time around, having those experiences, we know we need to enjoy the moment and hold on to it."