Thomas Tuchel found an unexpected upside in Anthony Gordon’s high-profile transfer from Newcastle United to Barcelona. Speaking after England’s narrow victory over New Zealand, the national team manager joked that the move would provide him with an enjoyable excuse to attend matches in Spain.

Despite his light-hearted remarks, Tuchel’s assessment of England’s display was more critical. The Three Lions secured a 1-0 win in Tampa during their first World Cup preparation fixture, but the German coach was far from fully satisfied. Although England dominated possession and territory, their inability to consistently produce quality in the final third frustrated him.

According to Tuchel, positional discipline was lacking, particularly before halftime. He felt the team became too compact centrally, limiting their attacking effectiveness and reducing the width required to break down opponents.

Gordon and Rashford Enter Direct Contest

England’s manager made wholesale changes at the interval, replacing the entire starting lineup as part of a workload-management strategy. Gordon came on for Marcus Rashford on the left flank, creating an intriguing subplot involving two players now connected by Barcelona.

Rashford recently completed a productive loan spell with the Catalan club from Manchester United and remains interested in staying there permanently. However, the situation is complicated by the purchase clause attached to his deal. United have maintained that the €30 million option is fixed, while Barcelona have reportedly hoped to negotiate different terms.

The circumstances became even more unusual when Barcelona invested €70 million, plus a further €10 million in potential bonuses, to sign Gordon. The transfer effectively brought in a player competing for a similar role at both club and international level.

Tuchel acknowledged the unusual nature of the situation with a smile, noting that the final outcome would depend on decisions made by both Barcelona and Rashford himself.

A Key Element of Tuchel’s World Cup Vision

Beyond the transfer headlines, Tuchel sees genuine value in the increased rivalry between Gordon and Rashford. Competition for places is central to the framework he is building ahead of the World Cup.

The England boss has repeatedly emphasized the importance of players operating in their strongest positions. Rather than trying to squeeze star names into unsuitable roles, he appears determined to create clear positional hierarchies throughout the squad.

His approach resembles a series of head-to-head contests across the pitch, with two players effectively competing for each outfield position. Among the most difficult selections ahead of England’s opening World Cup match against Croatia in Dallas on 17 June is the battle between Gordon and Rashford for a starting place on the left side.

Tuchel’s Continued Faith in Rashford

Since taking charge of England, Tuchel has consistently shown confidence in Rashford.

When he named his first squad in March 2025 for qualifying fixtures against Albania and Latvia, many expected the forward to be overlooked. At that point, Rashford had only recently joined Aston Villa on loan and had made minimal impact in terms of goals or starts.

There was no significant pressure on Tuchel to recall him immediately. Waiting until the next international window would have been an easy option. Instead, the coach opted to bring Rashford back into the fold, hoping to rebuild confidence and establish a positive relationship from the outset.

The decision reflected Tuchel’s well-known emphasis on player management. He wanted to demonstrate trust in Rashford and help him rediscover the level that once made him one of England’s most dangerous attackers. Since then, whenever fitness has allowed, Rashford has remained part of Tuchel’s plans.

Rashford Impresses While Gordon Struggles

Against New Zealand, Rashford produced several encouraging moments.

Like Gordon, he frequently drifted inside onto his preferred right foot. While that movement may have contributed to some of the structural issues highlighted by Tuchel, the forward still delivered many of England’s most threatening actions.

Rashford created five opportunities, more than any other player on the field. His overall contribution suggested he was among England’s standout performers.

The main criticism concerned his finishing. On the occasions he found himself in shooting positions, greater speed and precision were required. Gordon, meanwhile, struggled to make a comparable impact during his 45-minute appearance.

Defined Roles Across the Squad

Tuchel has already established a clear framework for the broader squad.

He has identified a core group of players expected to finish matches, inject energy from the bench and maintain competitive standards within the camp. The manager estimates that around 14 or 15 members of his squad are genuine candidates to start major games.

Several names appear particularly secure. Jordan Pickford, Reece James, Marc Guéhi, Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane look firmly positioned within Tuchel’s strongest lineup.

That still leaves a number of important positions open for competition.

Bellingham and Rogers Battle for Creativity

One of the most fascinating selection questions concerns the attacking midfield role.

Asked directly whether Jude Bellingham is competing for the No 10 position, Tuchel confirmed that he is. At the same time, the manager made it clear that Bellingham belongs among the players he already views as starters.

Morgan Rogers was given the opportunity from kickoff against New Zealand but failed to leave a significant impression. Bellingham entered after halftime and quickly brought greater intensity and sharper attacking moments.

Returning after recovering from a serious hamstring injury that ruled him out of England’s March fixtures, the midfielder appeared eager to remind everyone of his quality. His authority in possession and ability to drive forward were immediately evident.

Tuchel remains a strong admirer of Rogers, particularly because of his work rate without the ball. Nevertheless, Bellingham’s reputation as one of world football’s elite talents explains why this selection debate currently leans in his favour.

Final Decisions Still to Come

England’s next friendly against Costa Rica in Orlando will offer Tuchel another opportunity to fine-tune his plans.

Unlike the New Zealand match, he is not expected to rotate an entirely different starting lineup. As a result, the distribution of minutes could provide valuable clues about his preferred combinations ahead of the tournament.

One position, however, remains beyond dispute.

Kane Remains England’s Undisputed Leader

Harry Kane once again delivered the decisive moment, scoring the only goal against New Zealand and extending his remarkable England tally to 79 goals.

Questions continue to surface regarding England’s reliance on their captain for goals. The concern is whether the team possesses enough alternative scoring threats if Kane is unavailable or experiences a dip in form.

Tuchel, however, dismissed such worries.

Asked whether England could continue depending so heavily on Kane, the coach responded with complete confidence. He believes the striker is capable of maintaining his scoring output and sees no reason for concern.

Tuchel also pointed to England’s strength from set pieces and suggested future opponents may offer more attacking ambition, creating additional space for his side to exploit. In his view, England’s attacking potential will become even more evident when facing teams prepared to take greater risks.

For now, Kane remains the focal point of the attack, while around him the competition for places is becoming one of the defining stories of England’s World Cup preparations.