For Nico O’Reilly the message is simple after England’s victory in their World Cup opener against Croatia.
“Just the start, let’s keep going.” That was the message from the Manchester City man on Instagram after he achieved a childhood dream by starting for the Three Lions in the 4-2 win in Dallas.
O’Reilly, wearing the No.3 shirt, is now England’s undoubted starter at left back and made a positive impression as Thomas Tuchel’s men saw off European opposition, with goals from Harry Kane (2), Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford.
There have been times when it’s appeared that Tuchel has appeared confused about what he has with O’Reilly. Former City boss Pep Guardiola used the 21 year-old in a variety of roles following his breakthrough into the first team, initially at left back and then last season he spent a spell operating in a No.8 role - a position where he had become more accustomed during his youth career at City.
Despite the lack of specialist left-back options in the Three Lions squad - with neither Lewis Hall or Luke Shaw having been included - it was intriguing to see O’Reilly’s first appearance in the pre-tournament friendlies be in midfield, with Djed Spence preferred at left-back. Was Tuchel purely looking to see what he had with others? Or was it to see whether O’Reilly truly was an option should either Declan Rice or Elliot Anderson pick up a problem as the tournament progresses?
Perhaps it was the former. Perhaps it was the latter. Either way, O’Reilly was back on the left side of the back four for the final warm up against Costa Rica and then again against the 2018 finalists.
For Tuchel, like John Stones - somewhat controversially selected ahead of Marc Guehi - O'Reilly gives him key pillars of what he wants at these finals both with the ball and without, and, crucially, in both penalty boxes; namely, set piece supremacy and high pressure on opponents in their own half.
O'Reilly almost scored for England in the second half, denied by a brilliant save from Livakovic, while his height was important at defensive set pieces and also when England defended long balls from Croatian defenders as Three Lions forwards pressed the opposing back line.
And then when they are working the ball in deep areas, O'Reilly's history in midfield ensures that he is one of England's most press-resistant players in the build up phase. There's a reason Thomas Tuchel kept wanting Jordan Pickford to play short to his left, utilising Stones and O'Reilly's ability on the ball to get England moving forwards.
Tuchel has been criticised in some quarters for not taking the aforementioned Hall and Shaw. There will be those who believe either could well be starting at left-back instead of O'Reilly.
But on night one in the USA, the City ace proved Tuchel's decision to make him first choice correct.
