England’s attack caught fire against Croatia but their defence in Dallas was far less convincing.
The centre-back partnership of Ezri Konsa and John Stones raised eyebrows ahead of England’s World Cup opener, given the selection meant Marc Guehi was left on the bench, and mistakes from both starters in the build-up to the two Croatia goals supported those pre-match suspicions.
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“Is Konsa and Stones a partnership that can win us the World Cup?” That was the question posed by Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville at half-time on Wednesday on ITV, after watching Stones go to ground before Croatia’s first goal and Konsa misjudge a chipped pass ahead of their second.
“[Midfielders Declan] Rice and [Elliot] Anderson are going to have to be outstanding and protect our defence rather more than they have in that first half,” Neville said.
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Sky Sports News senior reporter Rob Dorsett reflects on England’s 4-2 win over Croatia
Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher revealed he would keep Stones in his starting XI but would partner him alongside Guehi against Ghana.
“For me, the first player in the back four would’ve been Marc Guehi,” Carragher said. ” I was surprised that he didn’t play.
“I was worried about John Stones and the amount of football he’s had. Not even just in the last few weeks, it’s over the last few years. I mean, to expect someone to come into a game like that and perform at his absolute best, I’m not quite sure about that one.
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Jamie Carragher shares his view on who Thomas Tuchel should be starting in defence for England.
“He gives something different than the others who do, probably more out-and-out defenders. Stones has great experience as well. You’re bringing him to play. There’s no point in bringing him to sit on the bench. But for me, Marc Guehi would be playing.
“I’d probably give Stones another go and try and get up to speed. Hopefully by the time you get to the really big games in the knockout stages, he’s had two or three 90 minutes under his belt and he looks a lot better.”
On top of the defensive errors, there was also jittery build-up play from deep in England’s half, with Stones and Konsa each guilty of giving up possession when faced with an intense, high press from Croatia early on.
While Stones and Konsa posted good passing accuracy numbers by full-time, other stats did not make great reading.
Stones made just one tackle, which did not come off, and one clearance in his 87 minutes. He won four of his seven duels.
Konsa won just three of his eight duels, one of his five aerial duels and did not make a single tackle or interception.
“We probably lack something defensively to go all the way,” Carragher told Sky Sports News the next morning, pouring some pessimism on England’s World Cup prospects, which had been lifted by an electric attacking display in the second half against Croatia.
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Speaking from Royal Ascot, Jamie Carragher assesses England’s win over Croatia
But the restoration of Guehi to the starting line-up for Tuesday’s next World Cup Group L game against Ghana could change that narrative. His stats for the past Premier League season show he can be more combative than Stones and Konsa.
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The Manchester City defender was a first-choice pick by Gareth Southgate at the Euros two years ago, where the perception of England’s strengths were the reverse: strong at the back, weak in attack.
Guehi, now 25, has gone to another level since then. He seamlessly stepped up at City when they signed him from Crystal Palace in January, picking up an FA Cup winners’ medal for the second year in a row in May to underline his development.
Guehi’s Premier League rankings since his Man City debut
Since his Premier League debut for City in January, Guehi ranked among the best in the division for both defensive and ball-playing metrics. Guehi was 10th for possession won in the defensive third, fourth for interceptions and, while sixth for forward passes, also fifth for passes completed in that period.
Importantly, it is Stones who has suffered from Guehi’s arrival. He could not get in the City team ahead of him.
Stones, who leaves City this summer at the end of his contract, has made it clear he was fit and available for selection during the run-in. But City boss Pep Guardiola preferred Guehi. So should England manager Thomas Tuchel?
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Gary Neville speaks highly on England and Thomas Tuchel after their win against Croatia in the World Cup, but says France remain his favourites to win the tournament
Stones played just five times for Man City in 2026. He only started five Premier League games for them in the past year – and City lost four of them.
Tuchel, though, is a big fan of Stones and made allowances to take him to this World Cup, treasuring his experience, leadership, defensive skill and quality on the ball.
Tuchel values Stones’ experience
So if Tuchel is eager to include Stones, was the error against Croatia to start him on the left side of the centre-back pairing to accommodate Konsa, who is used to playing on the right?
Tuchel gave that combination a trial run against Costa Rica in the final warm-up game. But in the modern age of specificity, it is notable that Stones has rarely played on that side for City.
Stones’ minutes by position over the past three Premier League seasons
Across the past three seasons he has recorded just 371 minutes at left centre-back. He has racked up 1,151 minutes on the right.
Guehi, in contrast, has spent much of his career on the left side, despite being right footed. He notably played on the left of a back three at Palace.
Like Stones, Guehi has the adaptability to play in both areas – and has played on the right of a centre-back pairing at times for City – but these details can make a difference.
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Sol Campbell believes Guehi could replace Stones in England’s next match against Ghana
“When you have been playing on one side for a long time and you switch to the other side it can throw you off a little bit,” Guehi told Sky Sports in December.
Recalling Guehi and shifting Stones back to his more familiar right side of the centre-back pairing could restore some steadiness and security to the backline. It was the duo Tuchel went for in England’s first World Cup warm-up game with New Zealand and seemed likely to be the combination of choice in this tournament.
Tuchel’s centre-back options in England World Cup squad
- John Stones
- Ezri Konsa
- Marc Guehi
- Dan Burn
- Jarell Quansah
- Trevoh Chalobah
But what then for Tuchel regular Konsa?
Tuchel has made Ezri Konsa a regular during his reign
Only goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and captain Harry Kane have played more minutes for England during Tuchel’s reign. Guehi has actually started more games at centre-back for England under Tuchel partnering Konsa than partnering Stones.
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Marc Guehi’s centre-back partners under Tuchel
- Ezri Konsa (three starts together)
- John Stones (two)
- Dan Burn
It would be ruthless if Konsa lost his spot after just one World Cup game which, let’s not forget, England won.
An alternative idea would be that Tuchel fields all three of those players against Ghana.
Konsa played right-back with Stones and Guehi at centre-back against Wales in October and it is clear the Aston Villa man has the profile Tuchel is after in that position, having snubbed the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold in favour of defenders with physicality.
The knock-on would be Reece James then coming out of the side, despite winning praise for the way he stepped into midfield late in the game against Croatia.
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England fans went through all the emotions as England beat Croatia 4-2 in their opening match of the World Cup against Croatia
James appears to be Tuchel’s preferred right-back choice. He has started five times for Tuchel in the position, the most of any player in this era.
But given James’ injury record, the argument for managing his minutes early in this tournament has merit. James has started England’s past two fixtures, against Costa Rica and Croatia, but before then he had not started back-to-back games for Chelsea since March.
Would the final group game against a weaker Panama side be the time to do that, rather than against Ghana, with England’s qualification and final position in Group L still to be determined, though?
There are many factors at play. But Tuchel will need to come up with the right combination at the right time through this World Cup if England are to balance off their attacking qualities with defensive solidity and go all the way.
Carragher chooses Stones and Guehi as centre-back duo
Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher revealed that he would keep Stones in his starting XI, but would partner him alongside Guehi against Ghana.
Carragher admitted he was surprised to see Guehi dropped from the team against Croatia, but reiterated there was little point calling Stones up if he was only going to be used as a substitute.
“For me, the first player in the back four would’ve been Marc Guehi,” Carragher said. ” I was surprised that he didn’t play.
“I was worried about John Stones and the amount of football he’s had. Not even just in the last few weeks, it’s over the last few years. I mean, to expect someone to come into a game like that and perform at his absolute best, I’m not quite sure about that one.
“He gives something different than the others who do, probably more out-and-out defenders. Stones has great experience as well. You’re bringing him to play. There’s no point in bringing him to sit on the bench. But for me, Marc Guehi would be playing.
“I’d probably give Stones another go and try and get up to speed. Hopefully by the time you get to the really big games in the knockout stages, he’s had two or three 90 minutes under his belt and he looks a lot better.”
