Tuchel Yet to Finalize England's World Cup Line-up

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Thomas Tuchel has stated that he is yet to finalize his starting 11 for England's World Cup opener against Croatia. The Three Lions will commence their campaign in North America on June 17, followed by matches against Ghana on June 23 and Panama on June 27. Before the tournament kicks off, England will play warm-up matches against New Zealand and Costa Rica, starting with the All Whites this Saturday. This marks England's first game in America since friendlies against Ecuador and Honduras in June 2014, leading up to the World Cup in Brazil, where they drew both matches. While anticipation grows for England's clash with Croatia, Tuchel remains patient in his team selection process. "I am still processing it," Tuchel explained. "I don't want to narrow it down prematurely, considering potential injuries or confidence issues. I have a clear idea of 14 or 15 players who could start and carry the team. We will decide based on form, energy, and suitability against opponents." He has been analyzing Croatia but plans to focus more as the team heads to Kansas for preparations. Historically, England's only encounters with New Zealand were in June 1991, where they won both games. England has also maintained a winning streak against teams ranked 85th or higher in FIFA rankings since 2005, with New Zealand ranked 85th.