England is about to face Croatia, and the center-back, left-winger, and number ten attacking midfielder positions are the three most competitive in the team. Tuchel has 14 to 15 key players in mind, which means there are still 3 to 4 starting spots up for grabs. After England defeated Costa Rica 3-0 in their final warm-up match, The Telegraph outlined England's probable starting lineup.
England 4-2-3-1 Suggested Starting Lineup
Pickford
In the first half against Costa Rica in Orlando, his long passes were slightly inconsistent, but he still has time to adapt to the FIFA World Cup official ball and the hot and oppressive conditions in the US stadiums. Despite competition, he remains the team's number one goalkeeper.
Reece James
The only concern for this Chelsea captain is his physical condition. As long as he is fit, his starting spot is secure. In the starting lineup for the Orlando warm-up match, James and O'Reilly were confirmed at full-back, which is also Tuchel's preferred strongest configuration for this position.
Guehi
Among Tuchel's alternative starting center-backs, he participated in the fewest qualification matches, and the coach indeed needs to weigh his options for this position; however, his steady performance in defense is enough to secure a starting spot. He rarely loses his position, thus rarely needing to make last-ditch tackles to avert danger.
Stones
He became a free agent after leaving Manchester City, with 26 international caps. He made few appearances for Manchester City last season, and there would be no need for the team to call him up if he wasn't intended to play; the opening match against Croatia suits his playing style perfectly.
O'Reilly
Guardiola converted him to a left-back, and he is highly likely to start in Dallas. His excellent athleticism is his core advantage in competing for a starting spot; he has a strong presence on the field, capable of tucking in to play as a midfielder, creating threats from set-pieces, and reliably performing his duties as a left-back.
Elliott Anderson
He performed brilliantly against Costa Rica, continuing to play after a head collision. In this tournament, he will be responsible for orchestrating the game's rhythm, delivering forward passes from a deep-lying position in front of the four defenders. In the Orlando match, his midfield partnership with Declan Rice once again gelled.
Declan Rice
After a long season with Arsenal, he shows no signs of fatigue; he largely controls set-piece duties, taking almost all corners and free-kicks in the match against Costa Rica. After receiving a layoff from Gordon, he calmly scored.
Saka
As long as he is close to 100% fit, this Arsenal winger should occupy a starting spot. The only uncertainty is whether his Achilles injury has fully healed. He trains individually, avoiding group training to catch up on fitness, and the team will use him cautiously.
Bellingham
Bellingham and Morgan Rogers are competing for the number ten starting spot. In England's final warm-up match, Bellingham delivered a highly convincing performance: initiating high-intensity tackles within seconds of the start, constantly creating scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates; he provided an assist that led to a penalty for Gordon, and high-fived every teammate when substituted.
Gordon
The left-winger choice will be between Rashford and Gordon, with Rashford appearing to be in better form during the weekend's warm-up match. However, Gordon performed exceptionally well in Orlando, perhaps still finding his rhythm after missing games at the end of the season. This will be one of Tuchel's toughest decisions.
Harry Kane
During regular attacking phases, Kane even drops back to receive the ball in his own penalty area, initiating build-up play from the back. He is ubiquitous on the field, and more importantly, he always capitalizes on scoring opportunities that come his way.