Kyle Walker spills beans on Thomas Tuchel’s biggest England World Cup selection dilemma and it's exactly what Three Lions fans want

England defender Kyle Walker believes Jude Bellingham currently has a slight advantage in the battle for the number 10 position as Thomas Tuchel prepares his team for the FIFA World Cup 2026. The Three Lions begin their campaign against Croatia, and several positions in the starting XI remain undecided. Walker praised the competition within the squad and said the manager faces some difficult decisions before England’s opening match.

The experienced full-back also highlighted the impressive rise of Morgan Rogers, who has emerged as a strong contender for a starting place. Walker said Rogers has developed significantly over the past few years and deserves recognition for reaching this level. He added that England’s squad depth gives Tuchel several quality options across the pitch as the team looks to challenge for the biggest prize in international football.

Kyle Walker praises Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers as Tuchel faces selection dilemmas

Kyle Walker told The Sun that Jude Bellingham currently edges Morgan Rogers in the race for the attacking midfield role, although he stressed that Rogers has earned enormous respect through his rapid development. Having played alongside Rogers during their time at Manchester City, Walker recalled seeing the youngster’s potential before loan spells helped him grow into one of England’s most exciting talents. The British side’s fans have also been debating that Bellingham has a better chance at midfield than Rogers.

According to Walker, Rogers has improved at every stage of his career. Strong performances at Middlesbrough and Aston Villa helped him establish himself at the highest level. Walker described him as a powerful player who continues to make significant progress and believes his best years are still ahead of him.

On the left wing, Walker said Anthony Gordon and Marcus Rashford both offer valuable qualities. He praised Gordon’s display against Costa Rica, particularly his role in creating Declan Rice’s goal. Walker noted that Gordon consistently attacks defenders with confidence and always looks to make things happen in the final third.

However, he suggested Rashford brings a more natural goalscoring instinct. Walker believes both players can influence matches and whichever one misses out on a starting spot can still make a major contribution from the bench.

Walker also highlighted Elliot Anderson’s strong case for a place in midfield. He feels Anderson’s recent performances could allow Rice to operate further forward, where the Arsenal midfielder can have a greater impact in attack while maintaining his defensive responsibilities.

In defence, Walker expects Marc Guehi to start but said the decision over his partner remains open between John Stones and Ezri Konsa. He added that England possess three outstanding central defenders and exciting attacking full-backs in Reece James and Nico O’Reilly.






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