England finished their World Cup qualifiers with a perfect record, winning all their games, scoring 22 goals and conceding no goals. Their latest game was a 2-0 win against Albania, with captain Harry Kane proving the difference with two second-half goals.
The captain will be the first name on North America’s team sheet next summer, but who will join him is up for debate. Many players will benefit from their performance in Tirana, while others may miss out. Here are your winners and losers…
winner
marcus rashford
Marcus Rashford came off the bench to record an assist at a time when the Three Lions are looking for a natural left winger. He has been brilliant for Barcelona this season and has rarely disappointed in an England shirt.
His main competition is believed to be Anthony Gordon, who is absent from the squad through injury, and Eberechi Eze, whose underwhelming performance drew criticism from Roy Keane.
morgan rogers
He may have only played six minutes, but his 84 minutes last time out would have proven even more important. Jude Bellingham, who competes with Morgan Rogers for the number 10 spot, had a tough time in Tirana.
He was furious with Tuchel after being substituted late on, a stark contrast to the Aston Villa man’s recent outings in which he shone for his country. He is aiming to start in the World Cup and took another step closer against Albania.
loser
jude bellingham
He was furious at being substituted at a time when his position in the team was already in doubt, and this could spell trouble for Tuchel.
There should be no doubt about Bellingham’s place as a starter, but problems have cropped up and once again the Real Madrid man has failed to prove he deserves a spot ahead of Rodgers or even Phil Foden.
Jarrell Quansah
He was given the chance to play right-back in a competitive game before the World Cup, his last chance to impress Tuchel, but he was pleased to have cheated by playing an unfamiliar role.
The Bayer Leverkusen star has played for Liverpool before, but he cannot perform at the same level as Reece James or Trent Alexander-Arnold.
John Stones, Mark Guehi, Dan Byrne and Ezri Konsa are all thought to be high up in the centre-back pecking order, making it highly unlikely Quansah will be on a plane to North America next summer. However, he has a bright future ahead of him and is expected to remain in the England team for many years to come.
