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England head coach Thomas Tuchel insists the bigger the games, the bigger his side will get. He must hope he is right or their World Cup campaign will be a short one.
First things first. And credit where it is due.
England’s win against Panama ensured phase one of this World Cup was mission accomplished, qualifying top of Group L to face DR Congo in the last 32 in Atlanta on Wednesday (17:00 BST).
The serious business starts now after two wins from three group games – but it would be delusion to suggest England’s progress into the knockout phase has been totally convincing, even though it was completed successfully.
“It was hard work,” Tuchel told BBC Sport. “We were ready for that. I said we so often get carried away with our expectations and what we demand of ourselves.
“We demanded to win the group and this is the day we did this. I encouraged everyone to enjoy it and take it in.
“We are at the World Cup. We won the group. I know our expectations. I know our dream. I know we can do better, but everyone who pushed and the players and staff deserves to go to the plane with a smile.”
There were not many smiles for the first frustrating portion of England’s final group game, but they got there in the end.
England, for the first hour, struggled as they did against Ghana to break down a Panama side ranked 42nd in the world, even offering the underdogs hope with another vulnerable defensive display.
In the final reckoning, England were too good for Panama, but this was not a victory without concerns for Tuchel.
Bellingham’s brilliance rescues England – and just as well
Jude Bellingham’s place in England’s World Cup starting line-up was a point of debate before the tournament, under pressure from the outstanding form of his boyhood friend, Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers.
Tuchel, correctly, decided he could not do without Bellingham’s class and big tournament experience.
He has been rewarded with a crucial goal in their opening World Cup win against Croatia then here, even more significantly, with a game-changing performance in New York New Jersey Stadium in the face of Panamanian defiance.
Bellingham worked in tandem with Rogers as Tuchel rested Declan Rice, who has been struggling with a hamstring injury and was on a yellow card.
The pair’s attacking instincts occasionally left Elliot Anderson over-run and overworked as a single pivot, but Bellingham’s brilliance made it work.
Despite fairly obvious attempts by Panama to play on his combustible temperament, Bellingham was the inspiration by forcing home the first goal, then crossing for Harry Kane to head the second, making England’s captain the country’s leading World Cup finals scorer with 11, one ahead of Gary Lineker.
Bellingham and Kane have now made decisive contributions to victories against Croatia and Panama. How England needed them here.
Marcus Rashford, deservedly given his chance after two disappointing displays from Barcelona new boy Anthony Gordon, was England’s brightest spark in the first half as he forced a save from Panama keeper Orlando Mosquera, headed narrowly over, then sent a free-kick just wide.
But frustration was mounting until Bellingham’s quality and industry paid off with England’s opener, capping a man-of-the-match performance further embellished with his assist for Kane.
If England are to win the World Cup, they will need Bellingham at his brilliant best. This display suggests he is in the mood to deliver.
Will Tuchel regret his full-back choices?
Tuchel raised eyebrows all-round when, discussing Reece James’ latest hamstring injury, he said: “No-one saw that coming.”
In reality, plenty could have seen in coming for the 26-year-old, who only played 20 Premier League games last season and has a long history of hamstring problems.
It brought further scrutiny on Tuchel’s defensive selections for the World Cup – the sight of Jarell Quansah, a central defender by trade with first Liverpool and then Bayer Leverkusen, playing at right-back.
This is a clear sign of disjointed selection.
Quansah got the nod ahead of Djed Spence, but was then forced off injured in the second half before England went in front.
Tuchel was left with Spence as last right-back standing, with James out and a medical bulletin awaited on Quansah. Tino Livramento’s regular injury troubles meant he left England’s squad before the tournament started.
Once again, more than a penny could have been offered for the thoughts of Quansah’s former Liverpool team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold, the Real Madrid defender pushed into international exile by Tuchel, a natural and lavishly gifted right-back England’s coach clearly has no use for.
“We’re yet to see whether he will regret those decisions,” former England captain Alan Shearer said on BBC Radio 5 Live. “We will only know that when we go in against better opposition.”
Indeed, it’s not just at full-back where Tuchel’s problems have come.
“The area of the pitch you want stability in is your goalkeeper and back four,” former England captain Wayne Rooney told BBC Sport. “With the back four we haven’t had that.”
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England’s dodgy defence and the need for Rice’s return
Tuchel started the World Cup with Ezri Konsa and John Stones as his favoured central defensive pairing against Croatia, but has switched to Konsa and Marc Guehi in the past two games.
Stones only started five Premier League games last season before leaving Manchester City. Is he now out in the cold? Or is Tuchel saving this outstanding and classy operator for the knockout stages?
Whatever Tuchel’s reasoning, England’s defence was vulnerable and too often exposed as they allowed Panama 13 attempts on target. They also saw a late consolation for Jose Fajardo narrowly ruled out for offside.
Tuchel is now preparing for what he regards as “chapter three” of England’s quest to win their first major men’s trophy since the 1966 World Cup.
“We wanted to win the group,” he said. “There is no substitute for wins and we have that feeling again. Three days to prepare the match in Atlanta. The tournament starts new again. We had the first chapter in prep camp, the second chapter in the group, and the third chapter is coming.”
For all Tuchel’s upbeat words, it was impossible to escape the ominous feeling – indeed inevitability – that if England defend with such uncertainty, and are pierced so regularly, by superior opposition and the world-class forwards they will hope to face by going deeper into the competition, punishment will be heavier and their World Cup hopes could disappear.
The big plus for Tuchel, and the world-class shield that will act as protection against the sort of openings Panama created, will be the expected return of Declan Rice for the last 32.
Bellingham and Rogers was the positive selection, ahead of the more conservative choice of Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo, but sometimes left England too open. Rice’s presence alone will give Tuchel, as well as his England team-mates, reassurance. This is, perhaps, why Tuchel spoke with such confidence despite a mixed performance from England.
And finally… Rashford makes his case?
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Marcus Rashford finally got his chance to press his claim ahead of Anthony Gordon and did enough to suggest Tuchel should keep faith with the Manchester United forward, who had a successful loan spell at Barcelona last season.
Rashford was England’s dangerman in the first half and also had opportunities after the break, although he was sometimes let down by a lack of support and some wayward finishing.
“We tried and tried. Marcus was just unlucky,” said Tuchel. “He is pushing and pushing like always. Every time I bring him on, he is super reliable.
“Everyone is trying. I’m not upset with players who try. You need a bit of luck, you need momentum and we will get there.”
They were words that suggested Rashford will get another chance in Atlanta on Wednesday.
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