England completed their World Cup preparations with a 3-0 victory over Costa Rica in Orlando, a match delayed by an hour due to thunderstorms. Thomas Tuchel's side impressed, with Declan Rice, Anthony Gordon, and Ollie Watkins scoring the goals. The result provided a boost ahead of their Group L opener against Croatia next Wednesday.
Tuchel made several changes from the previous friendly against New Zealand, keeping players on for longer spells to assess his options. Anthony Gordon started ahead of Marcus Rashford on the left and contributed a goal and an assist. Jude Bellingham operated as the No.10, while John Stones and Ezri Konsa partnered in defence, leaving Marc Guehi on the bench.
The match also offered encouragement regarding England's reliance on Harry Kane. The captain played 63 minutes without scoring, yet goals from Rice, Gordon, and Watkins demonstrated other players stepping up. Tuchel will hope this trend continues during the tournament.
Noni Madueke impressed on the right wing, pressing his case for a starting spot given Bukayo Saka's fitness concerns. Saka is not fully fit and will need his minutes managed, but Madueke's performance, despite hitting the post from a clear chance, showed he can be a capable deputy.
Tuchel admitted he does not yet know his starting XI for the Croatia match, with several key decisions still to be made. The friendly provided some clues, but the final lineup remains uncertain as the countdown to the World Cup begins.
