World Cup 2026: Jude Bellingham set to start in England number 10 role against Croatia
Jude Bellingham will start in England’s coveted number 10 role in their World Cup opener against Croatia.
There has been speculation about who will play in the central attacking area for England after Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers emerged as a viable option for the position.
However, it is understood England manager Thomas Tuchel will select 22-year-old Bellingham for Wednesday’s Group L clash in Dallas (21:00 BST).
The Real Madrid star is expected to feature alongside Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson in midfield.
Elsewhere, Ezri Konsa will slot in at centre-half alongside John Stones and Marc Guehi will start on the bench.
Reece James and Nico O’Reilly will start at fullback.
Harry Kane will captain the team and lead the attack. Anthony Gordon is expected to play on the left wing, while Noni Madueke is expected to play on the right in place of Bukayo Saka, who is trying to regain full fitness after his Achilles tendonitis.
Predicted line-up: Pickford; James, Stones, Konsa, O’Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; kane
