With Thomas Tuchel's England side preparing to face Croatia on 17 June (21:00 BST) in Dallas, BBC Sport pundits have revealed their preferred starting lineups for the Three Lions' opening FIFA World Cup 2026 fixture.

Micah Richards: trust the big names

Former England defender Micah Richards made Jordan Pickford his first choice in goal, adding that Reece James would start at right-back — fitness permitting. Richards selected John Stones alongside Marc Guehi in central defence, preferring Stones' composure on the ball over Ezri Konsa's consistency. At left-back, he opted for Nico O'Reilly over Djed Spence.

In midfield, Richards paired Elliot Anderson with Declan Rice, praising Anderson's ability to carry the ball through the lines with quality, not merely to win it back. He placed Jude Bellingham in the number 10 role ahead of Morgan Rogers, describing Bellingham and Harry Kane as England's two genuine world-class stars.

Marcus Rashford earned the nod over Anthony Gordon on the left wing, with Bukayo Saka occupying the right, and Kane leading the line up front.

Joe Hart: balance over individual brilliance

Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart admitted his distaste for selection debates before revealing a lineup he described as the most balanced option to launch the tournament. Hart stressed that the broader squad would have a significant role throughout the competition, noting that as many as seven places in his XI could be contested given the overall quality available.

Paul Robinson: Bellingham earns his place

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson argued that Jude Bellingham's performances in England's two pre-tournament warm-up fixtures had made a compelling case for his inclusion from the start. Robinson acknowledged how tight the competition is between Bellingham and Morgan Rogers for that advanced midfield berth.

On the defensive options, Robinson said he would select Ezri Konsa alongside Marc Guehi, departing from the majority view that John Stones is guaranteed to start. He conceded, however, that most of the other positions pick themselves.

The debate that matters

Former England captain Steph Houghton and former forward Alan Shearer also submitted their XIs, with the central questions — Stones or Konsa, Bellingham or Rogers — splitting opinion across the pundit panel. England's opening game against Croatia on 17 June will provide the first real answers.