England ensured they went into the World Cup with a win and their performance improved markedly after missing out on Costa Rica.
The Three Lions tried hard to beat New Zealand at the weekend, but Wednesday’s kick-off was delayed due to rain in Orlando, with Declan Rice turning the ball around after a thunderstorm and looked very close to the best. Ollie Watkins also came on, with Anthony Gordon adding a second goal from the spot in the second half.
Rice’s first goal came from a powerful outburst from Gordon, who was a standout for the Three Lions. He bypassed his opponent before laying on top of the Arsenal midfielder. His shot, which was scuffed, also deflected, but it was enough to settle into the bottom corner.
Costa Rica, ranked 53rd in the world, admit that the team they fielded was a development squad, and the level of competition England have to negotiate has certainly decreased. Noni Madueke should have doubled the Three Lions’ lead, but the winger’s shot hit the post and missed the lead.
England suffered their first VAR setback this summer as the referee intervened to overturn his penalty for a foul on Gordon, but the result was overturned.
Thomas Tuchel’s side have shown they can dominate possession and territory, which they showed at Florida, but it looked as though a lack of killer instincts would remain an issue. However, England were given a golden opportunity to capitalize on their advantage when Costa Rica nailed a handball.
Without Harry Kane on the pitch, Gordon stepped up and smashed the penalty into the top corner. Morgan Rodgers missed a golden chance to convert a three-pointer after the Aston Villa playmaker failed to get a shot on target, but club team-mate Watkins showed a more composed side in the final stages, reacting quickest and scoring from five yards. Here are the takeaways from England’s easy win:
Tuchel’s best team
The debate over England’s best XI from Tuchel’s chosen squad has been going on ever since the 26-man group was decided, but the starting XI named by the German on Wednesday night is probably as close to 100 per cent England as we know. Elliott Anderson will likely be Rice’s midfield partner.
Declan Rice and Anthony Gordon will combine in England’s opener
When fit, Reece James is the best right-back in the country and Nico O’Reilly is the best left-back. A wide range of options may be England’s greatest strength, but Gordon has shown he is ready to be slotted into the elite ranks. Still, it was good to see Tuchel give the big gun a runout where he can continue to build combinations.
Gordon is looking for a £70m player at every corner.
The former Newcastle winger recently completed a move to Barcelona. He exudes confidence when talking about the move and it clearly shows on the pitch. Gordon’s pace has caused havoc on England’s left flank, but he has done a good job of securing a first-team place.
Gordon has appeared on big stages many times, but none as big as the World Cup. Being chased by Barcelona seems to have given even more confidence to a player who has never hesitated to believe in himself, and the 25-year-old, who looks to be in top form for the opening match, will only be an advantage for England, who are borderline unable to drop him.
Maduke’s unforgettable moments
On the other flank, Madueke will want to forget the horrendous mistake that seemed more difficult to miss than to score. Until then, the Arsenal winger had done everything perfectly, watching the run and then getting on the bike when cleared. Maduke then showed elite poise.
Noni Madueke misses a great chance to put England two goals ahead
But the shine ended there. After Maduke got past the goalkeeper, all he had to do was put a pass into an empty net, but the winger used his left foot in a situation where he probably should have gone with his right. His shot hit the post and the Englishman smiled to hide his embarrassment.
that killer instinct
Positives: Yes, England are dominating, and yes, they have become a team that knows how to dominate possession and territory. But frankly, while this was comfortable, England may end up regretting the missed opportunity in the final stages of the World Cup.
It wasn’t until a penalty was awarded that the Three Lions scored their second goal. This made the game more comfortable. Teams are unlikely to have that luxury when playing against Spain, France and Argentina. Some big-name players have missed out on big opportunities and England cannot afford to waste too much if they really want to claim tournament glory.
England’s match was delayed by an hour due to weather.
lightning strike
This weather could be a sign of things to come! Twelve months ago, when the Club World Cup was held in the United States, there were many warnings, but before the World Cup officially began, we saw firsthand what kind of havoc bad weather can, and likely will, cause. England and Costa Rica are not the only countries affected by extreme weather.
That will lead to delays, but if weather prevents matches from being completed, FIFA and its schedule will have their work cut out. Chelsea’s match against Benfica ended more than four hours after kicking started. Players and coaches will be able to keep an eye on their teams to adapt the best set for success.
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