Bellingham at number 10? Will Saka start? It's decision time for Tuchel

England's final pre-World Cup friendly against Costa Rica offered head coach Thomas Tuchel a much-needed intense physical test, a stark contrast to their earlier subdued performance against New Zealand. The 1-0 victory over New Zealand was described as a glorified training session, with Tuchel fielding two separate teams in each half. The match against Costa Rica, however, provided valuable pointers and demonstrated a welcome increase in intensity.

Tuchel acknowledged the difficulty in naming his starting lineup for the opening group game against Croatia on June 17, stating, "Maybe." He emphasized keeping his cards close to his chest, prioritizing the current match over revealing future plans. The German coach noted the strength of both his starting XI and the available options on the bench, indicating a competitive squad.

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Maybe.

A significant decision facing Tuchel is the choice for England's number 10 role, a position contested by Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers. While Rogers has often been favored, Bellingham showed flashes of brilliance against Costa Rica, including a superb through ball that led to a penalty and his involvement in the build-up to the second goal. Both players are considered key members of Tuchel's plans, but only one can likely occupy the number 10 spot against Croatia, making it a pivotal choice in Tuchel's tenure.

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But we will always keep our cards in our hand. We will not give any decisions away because my thoughts at the moment are not for Croatia, they're for here today.