World Cup 2026: England boss Thomas Tuchel has Marc Guehi pushing for recall after unsure John Stones, Ezri Konsa performances towards Croatia

England’s assault caught hearth towards Croatia however their defence in Dallas was far much less convincing.

The centre-back partnership of Ezri Konsa and John Stones raised eyebrows forward of England’s World Cup opener, given the choice meant Marc Guehi was left on the bench, and errors from each starters within the build-up to the 2 Croatia objectives supported these pre-match suspicions.

“Is Konsa and Stones a partnership that can win us the World Cup?” That was the query posed by Sky Sports activities pundit Gary Neville at half-time on Wednesday on ITV, after watching Stones go to floor earlier than Croatia’s first purpose and Konsa misjudge a chipped cross forward of their second.

“[Midfielders Declan] Rice and [Elliot] Anderson are going to have to be outstanding and protect our defence rather more than they have in that first half,” Neville stated.

On prime of the defensive errors, there was additionally jittery build-up play from deep in England’s half, with Stones and Konsa every responsible of giving up possession when confronted with an intense, excessive press from Croatia early on.

Whereas Stones and Konsa posted good passing accuracy numbers by full-time, different stats didn’t make nice studying.

Stones made only one deal with, which didn’t come off, and one clearance in his 87 minutes. He gained 4 of his seven duels.

Konsa gained simply three of his eight duels, certainly one of his 5 aerial duels and didn’t make a single deal with or interception.

“We probably lack something defensively to go all the way,” Jamie Carragher informed Sky Sports activities Information the subsequent morning, pouring some pessimism on England’s World Cup prospects, which had been lifted by an electrical attacking show within the second half towards Croatia.

However the restoration of Guehi to the beginning line-up for Tuesday’s subsequent World Cup Group L recreation towards Ghana may change that narrative. His stats for the previous Premier League season present he could be extra combative than Stones and Konsa.

The Manchester Metropolis defender was a first-choice choose by Gareth Southgate on the Euros two years in the past, the place the notion of England’s strengths have been the reverse: robust on the again, weak in assault.

Guehi, now 25, has gone to a different degree since then. He seamlessly stepped up at Metropolis once they signed him from Crystal Palace in January, choosing up an FA Cup winners’ medal for the second 12 months in a row in Could to underline his growth.

Since his Premier League debut for Metropolis in January, Guehi ranked among the many finest within the division for each defensive and ball-playing metrics. Guehi was tenth for possession gained within the defensive third, fourth for interceptions and, whereas sixth for ahead passes, additionally fifth for passes accomplished in that interval.

Importantly, it’s Stones who has suffered from Guehi’s arrival. He couldn’t get within the Metropolis workforce forward of him.

Stones, who leaves Metropolis this summer time on the finish of his contract, has made it clear he was match and accessible for choice throughout the run-in. However Metropolis boss Pep Guardiola most popular Guehi. So ought to England supervisor Thomas Tuchel?

Stones performed simply 5 occasions for Man Metropolis in 2026. He solely began 5 Premier League video games for them previously 12 months – and Metropolis misplaced 4 of them.

Tuchel, although, is an enormous fan of Stones and made allowances to take him to this World Cup, treasuring his expertise, management, defensive talent and high quality on the ball.

So if Tuchel is keen to incorporate Stones, was the error towards Croatia to start out him on the left facet of the centre-back pairing to accommodate Konsa, who’s used to enjoying on the suitable?

Tuchel gave that mixture a trial run towards Costa Rica within the closing warm-up recreation. However within the fashionable age of specificity, it’s notable that Stones has hardly ever performed on that facet for Metropolis.

Throughout the previous three seasons he has recorded simply 371 minutes at left centre-back. He has racked up 1,151 minutes on the suitable.

Guehi, in distinction, has spent a lot of his profession on the left facet, regardless of being proper footed. He notably performed on the left of a again three at Palace.

Like Stones, Guehi has the adaptability to play in each areas – and has performed on the suitable of a centre-back pairing at occasions for Metropolis – however these particulars could make a distinction.

“When you have been playing on one side for a long time and you switch to the other side it can throw you off a little bit,” Guehi informed Sky Sports activities in December.

Recalling Guehi and shifting Stones again to his extra acquainted proper facet of the centre-back pairing may restore some steadiness and safety to the backline. It was the duo Tuchel went for in England’s first World Cup warm-up recreation with New Zealand and appeared prone to be the mix of selection on this match.

However what then for Tuchel common Konsa?

Solely goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and captain Harry Kane have performed extra minutes for England throughout Tuchel’s reign. Guehi has really began extra video games at centre-back for England beneath Tuchel partnering Konsa than partnering Stones.

It will be ruthless if Konsa misplaced his spot after only one World Cup recreation which, let’s not overlook, England gained.

An alternate concept can be that Tuchel fields all three of these gamers towards Ghana.

Konsa performed right-back with Stones and Guehi at centre-back towards Wales in October and it’s clear the Aston Villa man has the profile Tuchel is after in that place, having snubbed the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold in favour of defenders with physicality.

The knock-on can be Reece James then popping out of the facet, regardless of profitable reward for the way in which he stepped into midfield late within the recreation towards Croatia.

James seems to be Tuchel’s most popular right-back selection. He has began 5 occasions for Tuchel within the place, probably the most of any participant on this period.

However given James’ harm report, the argument for managing his minutes early on this match has benefit. James has began England’s previous two fixtures, towards Costa Rica and Croatia, however earlier than then he had not began back-to-back video games for Chelsea since March.

Would the ultimate group recreation towards a weaker Panama facet be the time to try this, slightly than towards Ghana, with England’s qualification and closing place in Group L nonetheless to be decided, although?

There are various components at play. However Tuchel might want to give you the suitable mixture on the proper time via this World Cup if England are to stability off their attacking qualities with defensive solidity and go all the way in which.