“Tuchel undecided between Rashford and Guehi after England’s victory.”

Marcus Rashford came off the bench to score the decisive goal in the 4-2 victory over Croatia, and despite the exciting offensive display, he left Thomas Tuchel with two headaches that promise to stir things up in the coming week: to keep or to change? The choice between Rashford and Anthony Gordon for the attack, and between Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi in the defensive line, are now the dilemmas dominating England’s preparations for the clash with Ghana in Boston.

In their World Cup debut, held in Dallas, Tuchel’s England showcased an appealing offensive style of play but revealed concerning defensive weaknesses. The German coach’s choice to start Konsa from Aston Villa instead of Marc Guehi from Manchester City alongside John Stones left many fans and analysts questioning the solidity of the defense. On the other side of the field, the surprise was the inclusion of the newly signed Barcelona player, Anthony Gordon, which relegated Rashford to the bench—a decision that was later reversed, with the Manchester United forward coming on to score the final goal, sealing the victory.


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The importance of these choices does not end with the opening match: Tuchel now faces a real crossroads. In a World Cup where any slip-up can be fatal, the decision to stick with the initial lineup or risk new combinations could determine the success or failure of the English campaign. The defense, while managing to contain part of the Croatian offensive, displayed moments of insecurity, forcing Jordan Pickford into a crucial save when the score was 3-2. The attack, on the other hand, showed responsiveness and depth in the squad, but the question remains: will Rashford be more effective than Gordon on the left?

The numbers don’t lie: under Tuchel’s management, Konsa has started in 10 of the 15 matches, accumulating 933 minutes, only behind Pickford and Kane. Guehi, on the other hand, has only managed 504 minutes across seven starts, a statistic that raises questions about the coach’s confidence in the defender he sold while at Chelsea. Despite some positional errors, such as in Croatia’s second goal, Konsa seems to convince Tuchel with his physical attributes and game reading. Stones, despite limited minutes in the Premier League last season and uncertainty about his future, retains the coach’s trust to lead the defense.

The pressure mounts with opinions from figures in English football. Chris Sutton, former forward for the national team, told BBC Sport: “Why is the debate about Guehi versus Konsa and not Stones? I would pick Guehi and Konsa because they are the best defenders. Don’t get me wrong, John Stones has been a great player and I have immense respect for his career, but we are talking about a player who doesn’t even have a club for next season. I don’t think Stones has the athletic ability that the other two possess. It’s nothing against John, who has been brilliant. He has more composure on the ball, but when England gets out of the group, as they will, they need the best defenders to face the best attackers. I think Konsa and Guehi have better attributes in one-on-one situations than John Stones, and there will be times when they will have to deal with top-level players on their own.”

Paul Robinson, the former goalkeeper for the national team and now an analyst for BBC Radio 5 Live, also believes that Tuchel may rotate the team, but for strategic reasons and not just due to defensive concerns: “The defense seemed nervous at times, but it needs to be put into context. It’s the first game of a major tournament, and Croatia is ranked 11th in the world. They have caused problems for England before and have World Cup and European Championship medals. Tactical flaws can be pointed out, but what pleased Tuchel was that there were no individual errors; it was a collective issue. He can work on that in training. I think there are a lot of people quick to criticize when, in fact, they should be looking at the positives. This was an England that played to its strengths for the first time.”

With the match against Ghana just around the corner, Tuchel has little time to decide whether to keep Konsa or opt for Guehi in central defense, and whether Rashford deserves a starting spot after his performance against Croatia. A potential victory in Boston could solidify England at the top of the group, but any misjudgment could once again expose defensive weaknesses, which become even more dangerous as the competition progresses and the stakes rise. For now, the German coach is under maximum pressure to find the right balance and keep alive the hopes of fans that this World Cup could finally bring the glory that has eluded England for decades.

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