England kick off their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L campaign against Croatia on Wednesday, and manager Thomas Tuchel still has meaningful decisions to make across four key positions before he names his starting eleven.

The no. 10 battle

The contest between Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers for the No 10 shirt remains the most closely watched selection call. Recent evidence from friendlies against New Zealand and Costa Rica — and reports from inside the training camp — suggest Bellingham has edged ahead of his close friend, pointing to the Real Madrid midfielder getting the start against Croatia.

Yet Rogers cannot be written off. He was England's most consistent forward throughout World Cup qualifying, the only forward to have appeared in all eight qualification matches, and Tuchel has leaned on him heavily during that run.

Right wing: Saka or Madueke?

Noni Madueke started on the right flank against Costa Rica while Bukayo Saka managed his minutes. Since that match, Saka has insisted he is fit and available, but has also acknowledged that Tuchel holds the final say on whether he is ready for a full 90 minutes. The decision on who starts on the right will hinge on Tuchel's assessment of Saka's fitness on the day.

Left wing: Rashford back in the picture

Anthony Gordon has impressed in his competition with Marcus Rashford on the left side, but the mood inside the England camp appears to favour Rashford. Those close to the squad describe him as being in the best physical condition, producing his most eye-catching training sessions, and carrying a positive mindset rarely seen in recent years. Rashford has been a Tuchel favourite since the manager took charge 18 months ago, which makes him difficult to overlook.

Centre-back uncertainty

Marc Guehi had long been considered a certainty in the heart of England's defence, but Tuchel's decision to pair John Stones and Ezri Konsa together against Costa Rica has thrown that assumption into doubt. The final pairing may come down to a late instinct from the manager himself. The emerging sense within the camp is that Stones will feature, with either Konsa or Guehi alongside him.

The seven spots that appear settled

Outside those four positions, the remainder of England's lineup looks largely fixed. Jordan Pickford will start in goal for his third World Cup. Reece James is the established first-choice right-back, and Nico O'Reilly is set to make his World Cup debut at left-back. Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson are expected to anchor the midfield, with Harry Kane leading the attack.

Tuchel is known for finalising his team selections as late as possible — often sleeping on his options the night before a match to arrive at a fresh decision on matchday. With Croatia waiting on Wednesday, four places in his eleven may remain undecided right up until kick-off.