​Thomas Tuchel began the World Cup with Ezri Konsa and John Stones as his favored central pairing, but in the last two matches he has shifted to Konsa and Marc Guehi, leaving Stones to start only five Premier League games last season for Manchester City. Is Stones out in the cold, or is Tuchel saving this elegant defender for the knockout rounds? Whatever the reasoning, England’s defense looked exposed in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Panama, with the opponents managing 13 shots on goal, and Panama also had a late chance for Jose Fajardo that was narrowly ruled offside.
Tuchel now gears up for what he calls “chapter three” of England’s bid to win their first major men’s trophy since 1966. “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 anew. We had the first chapter in the prep camp, the second chapter in the group, and the third chapter is coming.” Yet beneath his upbeat tone, there was a lingering sense of inevitability: if England defend with such fragility and are repeatedly pierced by superior opposition and world-class forwards they would likely be punished more severely as the World Cup progresses, threatening their chances.
The big boost for Tuchel—and the defensive shield that could ward off such openings—will be the anticipated return of Arsenal’s Declan Rice for the last-32 clash against DR Congo on Wednesday. Against Panama, Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers offered a more adventurous selection than Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo, but that approach sometimes left England too exposed. Rice’s presence would provide essential reassurance for Tuchel and the rest of the squad, which is likely why he spoke with such confidence despite the uneven performance on Saturday. Read more on Rice’s importance and England’s need to improve