England Cruise Past Costa Rica 3-0 in Final World Cup Tune-Up

England are ready. As of June 11, 2026, Thomas Tuchel's side have wrapped up their pre-tournament preparation with a comfortable 3-0 win over Costa Rica — goals from Declan Rice, Anthony Gordon, and Ollie Watkins sealing a dominant night in Orlando . The Group L opener against Croatia is six days away.

The match itself was delayed by an hour (as of June 11, 2026). A thunderstorm flooded the pitch at Inter&Co Stadium, and kickoff only went ahead once the surface drained . When play finally started, England were sharp from the whistle.

How England Won It

Tuchel set up in a 4-2-3-1 (as of June 11, 2026). The lineup read like a dress rehearsal: Pickford in goal, James and O'Reilly as full-backs, Konsa and Stones at centre-back, Anderson and Rice in the double pivot, Madueke on the right, Bellingham at No. 10, Gordon on the left, and Kane up front . It was widely read as the intended XI for the Croatia opener .

Rice opened the scoring in the 9th minute. Gordon drove forward, cut the ball back, and Rice finished. Simple, direct, effective . Noni Madueke hit the post from close range in the first half and had a penalty overturned on review — a frustrating night before Bukayo Saka replaced him .

The second half belonged to the substitutes and the bench options staking their claim. Eberechi Eze's involvement forced a handball in the box, and Gordon stepped up to convert the penalty in the 68th minute . Then Watkins headed home from close range in the 87th minute after Morgan Rogers forced an initial save . Three goals, three different scorers, clean sheet. Job done.

Gordon Settles the Left-Wing Debate

The biggest talking point walks away with Anthony Gordon's name on it. The Newcastle forward assisted the opener, converted the penalty, and looked the most dangerous player on the pitch . The question all spring was Gordon or Marcus Rashford on the left. After this performance, Tuchel's preference looks settled .

Gordon's club form backs it up. He has 18 goals and 5 assists in 46 club appearances over the last 12 months. Those are first-choice numbers (as of June 11, 2026).

Rashford, now at Barcelona, brings 16 goals and 11 assists across 50 club appearances in the same window. He has quality. But Gordon got the start, got the goals, and got the answer (as of June 11, 2026).

Saka Watch — Managed, Not Dropped

Bukayo Saka did not start. He came off the bench to replace Madueke. Tuchel was clear before the match: this is injury management, not a selection call. Saka "had an injury in March and carried it through to club," Tuchel explained, and the coaching staff are building him up carefully .

Saka has 141 NT minutes across 2 appearances in the last 12 months. At club level with Arsenal, he has logged 3,493 minutes, 11 goals, and 9 assists across 55 appearances. The talent is not in question. The fitness timeline is (as of June 11, 2026).

This is the one genuine concern heading into the tournament. If Saka is fit for Croatia, England's attacking options are frightening. If not, Madueke and Gordon can carry the wide positions — but Saka's creative edge is hard to replicate .

What Tuchel Said

Tuchel was satisfied. "Everyone did well. Not about one individual player. A very good team performance. We wanted to push to next level and we got it. We worked hard, the counterpressing good, togetherness — everything a very, very high level" .

Rice echoed the mood. "Really well. The manager was on at us to ramp it up with the ball, intensity and pressing. It was an outstanding [performance]" .

No caveats. No qualifications. Just satisfaction with the level.

England's Recent Run

The Costa Rica result extends a strong streak. Across their last 10 national-team matches, England have won 8, drawn 1, and lost 1, scoring 24 goals and conceding just 2. The only defeat came against Japan in March. The only draw was against Uruguay. Everything else has been clean (as of June 11, 2026).

That defensive record — 2 goals conceded in 10 matches — is Tuchel's signature. The 4-2-3-1 is built to control, and the Anderson-Rice pivot is the engine. Elliott Anderson has logged 4,735 club minutes across 58 appearances this season. Rice has 4,648 across 56. These two play every week, and it shows (as of June 11, 2026).

The Full 26-Player Squad

Tuchel named the official 26-player squad on May 22. Here is the full roster for England at the 2026 World Cup.

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

Group L Schedule

England's World Cup path:

Croatia and Ghana are the tests. Panama is the match England should be expected to handle. But this group has no free passes. Croatia have a tournament pedigree that demands respect. Ghana are physical and fast in transition.

What does the Costa Rica result mean for England's World Cup?

It means Tuchel has his system, his starters, and his confidence. The 4-2-3-1 with Anderson and Rice in the pivot, Bellingham at No. 10, and Gordon on the left is the setup. The 3-0 scoreline in the final warm-up gives the squad momentum heading into Arlington .

Who scored for England against Costa Rica?

Declan Rice opened the scoring in the 9th minute from Anthony Gordon's cutback. Gordon converted a penalty in the 68th minute. Ollie Watkins headed home in the 87th minute after Morgan Rogers forced an initial save .

When do England play their first World Cup 2026 match?

England open Group L against Croatia on June 17 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington . Their second match is against Ghana on June 23 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. The group stage finishes against Panama on June 27 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

How many players are in England's World Cup 2026 squad?

Tuchel named 26 players. The squad was officially announced on May 22. The full roster covers three goalkeepers, nine defenders, and a deep pool of midfielders and forwards headlined by Kane, Bellingham, Saka, and Gordon.

Why was Bukayo Saka on the bench against Costa Rica?

Tuchel confirmed before the match that Saka is being managed carefully after picking up an injury in March and carrying it through the end of the club season. He came on as a substitute, and the coaching staff are gradually building up his minutes ahead of the Croatia opener .

See the projected squad
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