Marcus Rashford, Morgan Rogers, and England’s Bench Depth Could Decide World Cup Fate
The recent victory over Croatia highlighted the strength of England's bench. Manager Thomas Tuchel has a wealth of attacking talent that cannot all start together. Like Mikel Arteta with Arsenal, Tuchel relies on his "finishers"—players who come off the bench and can change the course of the game.
The Rashford-Gordon Choice
Tuchel started Anthony Gordon instead of Marcus Rashford on the left wing, despite calls for Rashford to begin. Gordon pressed hard and threatened the defense, even though he touched the ball only 17 times. His off-ball work was vital, showing that impact isn’t always about possession stats.
Rashford came on after 72 minutes and scored 13 minutes later, finishing a smooth team move. Tuchel praised his effort and hunger in training, saying Rashford deserved the goal after impressing in the previous weeks.
Rogers’ Role and Bellingham’s Presence
Morgan Rogers, an exciting talent from Aston Villa, also impressed from the bench. Although Jude Bellingham is considered a better pure player, Rogers pushed hard for a starting spot. He entered around the 70th minute against Croatia, buzzing behind the attack and making a crucial decoy run before England’s fourth goal.
There might be occasions where Rogers plays alongside Bellingham or steps up when needed.
Other Key Substitutes
Djed Spence replaced Reece James at right-back, injecting pace and threat. He nearly scored but was denied by excellent goalkeeping. Bukayo Saka, still nursing an Achilles injury, was eased back into action with 20 solid minutes and an assist. Tuchel plans to have him fully fit for the final group game and bigger matches.
Unmatched Squad Depth
Not everyone has featured yet. Players like Ollie Watkins, Eberechi Eze, and Kobbie Mainoo remain unused but are strong options. The squad’s depth starkly contrasts with 2018 when the bench held fewer threats, showing how far England have come.
Managing Expectations
Tuchel admitted some players, including Rashford, have questioned their playing time. Still, he praised their professionalism and commitment in training and meetings. Almost all of the 26-man squad were regular starters at their clubs last season.
Some, like Jordan Henderson, provide experience and leadership more than minutes on the pitch, while others such as Ivan Toney might be chosen for specific roles like penalty-taking.
Rotation Will Be Key
Tuchel said he has 14 or 15 players capable of starting and making an impact. Given the demanding schedule and physical toll, rotation seems unavoidable. Resting players like Bellingham or Kane during less critical games could allow others like Rogers or Watkins to shine.
This depth offers England a real chance to go deep in the tournament, with high-quality substitutes ready to make decisive contributions.
