Thomas Tuchel has handed Noni Madueke his first England start, pairing the Chelsea winger with Jude Bellingham in midfield for Sunday's Nations League encounter with Croatia at Stadion Rujevica in Rijeka. Bukayo Saka, absent from the squad for recent matches through injury, returns to the bench after completing his recovery programme at Arsenal.
Madueke Earns Rare England Opportunity
The 23-year-old Chelsea forward has earned just seven caps for England since his debut in 2023. Tuchel's decision to start him marks a notable shift from his predecessor, with the German coach seeking to assess his options in wide positions during this international window. Madueke joined Chelsea from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023 for a reported fee of £29 million. He has contributed eight goal contributions in the Premier League this season, including two goals in his last three appearances for the club.
Madueke's selection comes amid fierce competition for places. The Chelsea academy product previously represented England at youth level before switching his international allegiance from Jamaica, where he had also featured. His inclusion offers Tuchel a different profile to Saka on the right flank, with Madueke known for his direct running and ability to cut inside onto his left foot.
Bellingham Continues Central Role
Jude Bellingham retains his place in the side despite recent criticism of his club form at Real Madrid. The 21-year-old has started every match under Tuchel since the German took charge in January, operating in a number-ten role behind the striker. Bellingham scored 21 goals for England before his 21st birthday and remains central to Tuchel's long-term plans for the side.
Real Madrid's midfielder has registered two assists in La Liga this season but has found the going tougher in front of goal after his prolific debut campaign in Spain. Tuchel defended his form during Friday's press conference in Zagreb, stating the player was operating in a deeper role at club level compared to his position for England.
Saka's Return Offers Tactical Flexibility
Saka's presence on the bench gives Tuchel the option to introduce the Arsenal star if England require a goal in the second half. The 23-year-old missed the March internationals with a hamstring injury sustained during Arsenal's Champions League exit to Real Madrid. He has returned to full training and was described as "ready to play" by England sources on Saturday.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had expressed cautious optimism about Saka's recovery, stating he was "pleased with his progress" following the club's final training session before the international break.
England's Tactical Setup Under Tuchel
Tuchel has deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation in both of his matches as England manager so far, with Bellingham operating as the attacking midfielder behind a lone striker. The German coach confirmed in his pre-match briefing that formation would remain unchanged against Croatia, with the match representing a significant test of England's defensive organisation after consecutive clean sheets against Albania and Latvia in March.
The Rijeka fixture marks England's first away match under Tuchel, following victories at Wembley in his opening two games. Croatia, ranked 10th in the world by FIFA, provide a sterner examination of England's title credentials in Nations League A.
What to Watch Next
Kick-off at Stadion Rujevica is scheduled for 19:45 local time on Sunday evening. Tuchel is expected to name his starting eleven in full during Saturday's team announcement. England currently sit top of their Nations League group with maximum points from two matches, while Croatia opened their campaign with a draw against France in September. The match will be broadcast live on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom.
England face Italy in their next Nations League fixture on 14 October, a match that could effectively decide the group if both teams maintain their winning starts. Tuchel has spoken of using the remaining matches before the 2026 World Cup qualifiers to establish a consistent spine of the team.
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The German coach confirmed in his pre-match briefing that formation would remain unchanged against Croatia, with the match representing a significant test of England's defensive organisation after consecutive clean sheets against Albania and Latvia in March.The Rijeka fixture marks England's first away match under Tuchel, following victories at Wembley in his opening two games. Tuchel defended his form during Friday's press conference in Zagreb, stating the player was operating in a deeper role at club level compared to his position for England.Saka's Return Offers Tactical FlexibilitySaka's presence on the bench gives Tuchel the option to introduce the Arsenal star if England require a goal in the second half.
