England delivered a commanding 3-0 victory over Costa Rica in Orlando on Wednesday night, providing the perfect warm-up for Thomas Tuchel's World Cup campaign. The England fans in attendance were already chanting "It's Coming Home" by the final whistle, a testament to the team's sharp performance.
Bellingham and Gordon shine in audition
Jude Bellingham passed his audition with flying colours, starting ahead of Morgan Rogers and dominating midfield. Anthony Gordon also staked his claim for a starting spot against Croatia, scoring a brilliant free-kick and looking razor sharp throughout. Declan Rice opened the scoring with a crisp finish, continuing his fine form from Arsenal.
John Stones also boosted his chances, and the team looked a notch above their previous friendly against New Zealand. The match was delayed by an hour due to a ferocious thunderstorm, but England coped well with the humidity and grew stronger as the game progressed.
Key moments
Gordon set up Rice's opener with a great run down the left. Noni Madueke missed a sitter but later hit the post with a sensational effort. Bellingham's run and cut-back led to a penalty, which was overturned after VAR review. Gordon then smashed home the free-kick to seal the win, and Ollie Watkins added a late rebound.
Bukayo Saka made a positive cameo despite fitness concerns, and the substitutes injected fresh energy. England looked hungry, ready, and sharp, a significant improvement from their sluggish display last weekend.
World Cup preparation on track
Tuchel's training camp in Florida is clearly paying dividends. The team handled the storm and humidity, finishing strongly against a poor Costa Rican side. With the World Cup looming, England appear to be peaking at the right time.
