England starting 11: How they lined up for World Cup 2026 opener

Thomas Tuchel’s squad selection for this World Cup sparked fierce debate before a ball was kicked – the omissions of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Harry Maguire raised eyebrows, while Ivan Toney’s inclusion felt like a wildcard. But after a breathless 4-2 win over Croatia in the Dallas heat, the conversation has shifted to what Tuchel got right, and where England need to improve.

The former Chelsea and Bayern Munich coach named an attacking 4-2-3-1, with Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson anchoring midfield, and a forward line of Noni Madueke, Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon and England’s top goalscorer Harry Kane. 

The biggest pre-match talking point was Madueke’s inclusion on the right ahead of Bukayo Saka, but this was less a tactical call and more a fitness necessity – Saka has been carrying an Achilles issue since March and Tuchel has been candid that the Arsenal man is “still not [at] 100%”. John Stones partnered Ezri Konsa at centre-back, with Marc Guéhi among the second-half substitutes.

England’s attacking quality was on full display. Kane opened with a retaken penalty and added a towering header from Rice’s corner before the break. Croatia responded twice through Martin Baturina and Petar Musa, but Bellingham’s powerful run and finish early in the second half restored the lead, and substitute Marcus Rashford wrapped it up with a composed late goal.

The three points are in the bag, but Tuchel will know there is work to do – especially defensively, where Croatia’s two goals exposed gaps that Ghana and Panama will look to exploit.

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England starting 11 and World Cup 2026 squad: key takeaways

• Saka’s fitness remains the overriding concern – the Arsenal winger has been managing an Achilles issue since March, sustained in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City. He missed seven games for the Gunners and had his minutes carefully managed through the run-in. Tuchel has said it is “very unlikely” Saka will be able to start and finish matches at this tournament.
• Madueke’s importance has grown – with Saka still being carefully managed, Madueke’s value to this England squad has increased significantly. He started against Croatia and justified his selection by winning the first-half penalty. Tuchel will likely need him to play more minutes than originally anticipated as Saka’s workload is managed.
• Kane’s Golden Boot credentials are already on display – his brace moved him level with Gary Lineker on 10 World Cup goals, and his all-round performance – a penalty, a header, intelligent link-up – showed why he remains England’s most important player.
• Defensive vulnerability is the clearest concern – Baturina’s fierce drive and Musa’s well-worked finish – and both stemmed from lapses in concentration. Tuchel will need his backline to be more disciplined against opponents who sit deep and hit on the break.
• Tuchel’s bench made an impact – Rashford scored within minutes of replacing Gordon, while Saka, Guéhi, Spence and Rogers all got valuable minutes. The manager’s pattern of 60-minute changes looks set to continue, especially with the heat and travel demands of the group stage.
• Travel and conditions will be a factor – England flew to Dallas for the opener, and now face longer trips to Boston (Ghana) and New Jersey (Panama). Tuchel’s rotation policy will be crucial to keeping the squad fresh.

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England 2026 World Cup confirmed 26-man squad

Note: Tino Livramento has been replaced by Trevoh Chalobah due to injury – a defender Tuchel knows well from their time together at Chelsea.

How England lined up against Croatia

Substitutes used: Bukayo Saka (72′), Marcus Rashford (72’), Morgan Rogers (72’), Djed Spence (80’), Marc Guéhi (87’).

Detailed player by player analysis

In this section, we provide an overview of the four areas of the pitch, before turning our attention to Thomas Tuchel’s tactical framework. 

1. Goalkeeper Selection

Jordan Pickford remains England’s undisputed No.1. Dean Henderson and James Trafford provide back-up.

Pickford got a hand to Baturina’s powerful drive but couldn’t keep it out, and had little chance with Musa’s close-range finish. His distribution was mixed – some wayward clearances in the first half, but he settled as the game wore on.

2. Defensive Lineup

Tuchel started John Stones alongside Ezri Konsa, leaving Marc Guéhi on the bench. Reece James and Nico O’Reilly were the full-backs, with both capable of inverting into midfield. The squad has been hit by an injury to Tino Livramento, replaced by Trevoh Chalobah.

The new centre-back partnership showed signs they need more time together – both were at fault for Croatia’s goals. Stones went to ground for Baturina’s equaliser, while Konsa lacked aerial presence for Musa’s finish. James grew into the game but was quiet, while 19-year-old O’Reilly showed some nerves on his tournament debut.

3. Midfield Configuration

Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson were the double pivot, with Kobbie Mainoo and Jordan Henderson providing back-up. Jude Bellingham operated as the No.10.

Rice was a key part of England’s spine, with his trademark set-piece delivery that created Kane’s second and two chances for O’Reilly. Anderson showed impressive maturity and played the first-time pass that put Bellingham through to score. Bellingham was trusted in the No.10 role and delivered with a powerful run and finish early in the second half.

4. Forward Options

Harry Kane led the line, with Noni Madueke, Jude Bellingham and Anthony Gordon supporting. Saka’s Achilles issue meant Madueke got the nod on the right.

Kane was exceptional, dropping deep to link play and release Madueke. Madueke was England’s most dangerous attacker, winning the first-half penalty with his reading of the game and pace in behind. Gordon provided energy and pressing but lacked cutting edge. Rashford replaced Gordon and showed his quality finishing to roll in the fourth, with Saka assisting him after coming on.

5. Tactical Formation

Tuchel stuck with his preferred 4-2-3-1, with O’Reilly tucking into midfield to create a box shape alongside Rice and Anderson. This allowed England to overload the centre while still having width from the wide men.

England’s second-half display was a different beast – Tuchel’s half-time message sparked a ruthless response. “Even if we lose, it will not change my perception of the last 17 days, but let’s do it our way,” he told his players. They went full throttle at the start of the second half and Croatia couldn’t live with the intensity. The defensive transition remains a concern, with Croatia’s two goals coming from quick breaks.

6. Key player roles

• The Anchor: Elliot Anderson (Defensive coverage). Anderson showed maturity beyond his years, breaking up play and providing the pass for Bellingham’s goal.
• The Box Crasher: Jude Bellingham (Late box entries). His goal was classic Bellingham: a driving run from deep, beating a defender and finishing low. He’s England’s most dangerous midfield runner.
• The Finisher: Harry Kane (Penalties/Focal point). Kane scored two very different goals – a retaken penalty and a bullet header. He’s the focal point of everything England do in attack.

7. Recent Starting 11 Trends

Tuchel made five substitutions against Croatia, with four of them combining for Rashford’s late goal – a sign of his positive, attacking approach. Rashford replaced Gordon and scored within minutes, while Saka replaced Madueke and looked lively. Guéhi, Spence and Rogers also got minutes, giving Tuchel confidence in his squad depth. Expect similar rotation against Ghana and Panama, especially with Saka’s minutes needing careful management.

How to Bet on the England Starting 11

The anytime goalscorer market is always popular, and Harry Kane will be the short-price favourite in every group game – his brace against Croatia underlined his reliability.

Jude Bellingham is another attractive option, especially after his powerful finish from midfield. His late runs into the box make him a consistent threat.

For cards, Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson are the most likely England players to pick up bookings, given their defensive midfield roles and Tuchel’s high-press instructions.

VAR insurance markets – paying out when goals are disallowed – are worth watching after Kane’s penalty was initially saved before being retaken. Players like Anthony Gordon and Marcus Rashford, who make frequent runs in behind, could be involved in such incidents.

FAQ about the 2026 England World Cup squad

1. How did England line up against Croatia?

Thomas Tuchel started with a 4-2-3-1: Pickford; James, Konsa, Stones, O’Reilly; Rice, Anderson; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane. Substitutes used: Saka, Guéhi, Spence, Rashford, Rogers.

2. Why didn’t Bukayo Saka start?

Saka has been carrying an Achilles issue since March, sustained in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City. He missed seven games for Arsenal and had his minutes carefully managed through the run-in. The decision to start Madueke was a fitness precaution rather than a tactical one, with Saka introduced from the bench in the second half.

3. Are there any other injury concerns in the squad?

Reece James was substituted as a precaution after 70 minutes – his fitness will be managed throughout the group stage. Tino Livramento has been replaced by Trevoh Chalobah due to injury. No other major issues reported.

4. What’s the squad’s travel schedule?

England are based in Kansas City, Missouri. They flew to Dallas for the Croatia game, and will travel to Boston (Ghana) and New Jersey (Panama) for the remaining group matches. The FA chose Kansas City for its central location, which could reduce travel fatigue in the knockout stages.

About the author

Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.

Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball

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