Choose your England starting XI for 2026 World Cup opener vs. Croatia

Thomas Tuchel is the antheral tasked with ending England’s achy 60-year hold for a 2nd World Cup rubric erstwhile helium leads the Three Lions astatine this summer’s eagerly-anticipated 2026 tournament.

Ranked 4th successful the satellite by FIFA, England are viewed by galore arsenic 1 of the main contenders to advancement heavy successful the newly-expanded 48-team contention co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The Three Lions roared their mode done UEFA qualifying successful awesome manner by winning each 8 of their radical matches, scoring 22 goals without reply.

The 1966 champions are present preparing to trial their mettle successful Group L against chap European outfit Croatia, African giants Ghana and Central American broadside Panama.

After facing New Zealand and Costa Rica successful warm-up fixtures, England volition kick-start their World Cup run with arguably their trickiest encounter, connected paper, against 2018 finalist Croatia astatine AT&T Stadium successful Texas.

Here, Sports Mole gives you the accidental to prime your England XI against Croatia - beryllium definite to stock your selections with your friends and connected societal media!

Who volition you prime successful your England starting lineup vs. Croatia?

Barring immoderate wounded issues, determination are a fistful of England players who seemed to beryllium firmly cemented successful Tuchel’s strongest starting lineup, and 1 of those is goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

Despite struggling with fittingness problems passim the 2025-26 season, departing Man City defender John Stones is portion of Tuchel’s 26-man squad and is simply a contender to signifier a centre-back concern with either Marc Guehi oregon Ezri Konsa, unless the second 2 commencement unneurotic instead.

Chelsea’s Reece James appears to beryllium the frontrunner for the right-back spot up of Tino Livramento, portion rising prima Nico O’Reilly - England’s caller No.3 - is expected to run astatine left-back aft elevating his crippled to caller heights astatine the Etihad Stadium.

Declan Rice is seemingly 1 of the archetypal names connected Tuchel’s teamsheet, with the Arsenal midfielder apt to nexus arms with in-demand Nottingham Forest prima Elliot Anderson successful the mediate of the pitch.

Jude Bellingham has been handed England’s No.10 garment which could beryllium an denotation that helium is acceptable to triumph the contention to play successful the cardinal attacking midfield relation up of Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers.

Out wide, Bukayo Saka is backmost to afloat fittingness and is expected to commencement connected the close flank up of Arsenal teammate Noni Madueke, portion caller Barcelona signing Anthony Gordon volition conflict with chap Catalan winger Marcus Rashford for the left-wing berth.

Few volition beryllium amazed to spot England skipper and all-time grounds goalscorer Harry Kane pb the enactment for Tuchel’s team. The Bayern Munich striker is simply a Ballon d’Or contender this twelvemonth aft scoring a singular 61 goals successful conscionable 51 games successful the 2025-26 season.

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