Thomas Tuchel faces crucial selection decisions involving Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers as England prepare for their Group L opener at the World Cup.

The England manager is finalising his squad for the first match against Croatia, though one choice has already been made for him. Right-back Tino Livramento has been ruled out of the entire tournament after suffering a thigh injury during training.

Trevoh Chalobah will replace the Newcastle defender in the squad, but he will only link up with the team after the Croatia match. Reece James, however, was always expected to start in that position.

The Three Lions begin their Group L campaign against a familiar Croatian side at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Wednesday.

Tuchel mentioned last week that he has “14 or 15 starters” already decided, leaving a few positions still up for grabs and requiring difficult calls.

One such dilemma is the No.10 role, with Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers competing for the same starting position. The line-up Tuchel used in last Wednesday’s 3-0 friendly win over Costa Rica in Orlando is likely to resemble the team that starts in Texas, suggesting Bellingham could get the nod ahead of Rogers.

Although Tuchel has shown trust in Rogers during the qualifying campaign as his preferred playmaker, it would be a major surprise for many fans if Real Madrid’s Bellingham were to be left out of the starting eleven.

Another competitive battle is on the left wing, where Barcelona loanee Marcus Rashford faces a challenge from Anthony Gordon, who recently transferred from Newcastle United to the Catalan club. The uncertainty around whether Barcelona will make Rashford’s loan permanent adds an intriguing subplot to England’s selection ahead of kickoff.

The centre-back pairing is also yet to be confirmed, with Marc Guehi, John Stones, and Ezri Konsa all in contention for the two central defensive slots. Although many expect Guehi to start, it was Konsa and Stones who featured in the Costa Rica match, hinting at Tuchel’s possible preference for the opening fixture.

Even those who do not start are expected to have an important influence, as up to five substitutions are permitted and Tuchel is known for utilising his bench effectively with what he calls “finishers”.

Predicted England XI vs Croatia (4-2-3-1): Pickford; James, Stones, Guehi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane

Injured: Livramento