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Bellingham positions himself for England’s World Cup opener as Saka battles fitness
Jude Bellingham looks set to anchor England's attack against Croatia while Bukayo Saka's Achilles concern clouds his availability for the Group L opener
Jude Bellingham will likely be the first name on Thomas Tuchel’s teamsheet when England kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign against Croatia. Bukayo Saka, meanwhile, is in a race against his own body.
Bellingham takes the 10, and everything that comes with it
Tuchel’s decision to hand Bellingham the No. 10 shirt for the tournament tells you everything you need to know about the pecking order. Bellingham has backed up the assignment during England’s pre-tournament preparations, looking sharp in warm-up activities and training sessions. The Real Madrid midfielder is now appearing in his second World Cup.
England’s final tune-up before the tournament, a 3-0 victory against Costa Rica in early June, provided exactly the kind of confidence boost Tuchel wanted.
Saka’s Achilles problem isn’t going away quietly
The situation with Saka is more complicated. The Arsenal winger has been dealing with a lingering Achilles complaint, and is being carefully reintroduced to full training and match minutes.
The core question isn’t whether Saka will be available. He made Tuchel’s 26-man squad, announced in late May. The question is whether he can complete full match durations, and right now the answer appears to be no.
Tuchel’s squad depth gets tested early
Tuchel has been publicly downplaying the idea that any single player is guaranteed a starting spot, emphasizing squad depth and collective performance.
The 26-man squad includes the return of several pivotal players alongside Bellingham and Saka. Declan Rice is also appearing in his second World Cup, and the midfield options give Tuchel genuine flexibility in how he sets up against different opponents.
Group L opens with Croatia, a team that has been consistently excellent at major tournaments for the better part of a decade. Croatia reached the 2018 World Cup final and finished third in 2022.
If Saka can’t go from the start, Tuchel will need to find attacking width from elsewhere in his squad. Saka’s combination of dribbling, crossing, and defensive work rate is difficult to replicate, and his absence changes the tactical shape, not just the personnel.