Morgan Rogers’s early goal, clocked at 2 minutes and 10 seconds, marked England’s fastest score since Luke Shaw’s second-minute strike against Italy in the Euro 2021 final.
While Thomas Tuchel may have publicly voiced discontent with the England fans following their dominant victory over Wales at Wembley, the performance of his squad members will likely have filled him with a sense of validation.
Tuchel had previously delivered a critical and unusually direct assessment of the team’s “silent” supporters, despite the 3-0 victory being largely secured within the first 20 minutes.
However, it is another message from the German manager that holds broader significance as England builds momentum towards the upcoming World Cup.
Tuchel’s remarks extended far beyond the initial surprise surrounding Jude Bellingham’s omission from the latest England squad.
He has made it unequivocally clear that England’s reliance on established stars is over. Players who consistently perform can secure their places, with even the most prominent names no longer guaranteed an automatic return to the lineup.
While England’s friendly win at Wembley should be viewed in light of a Wales team seemingly focused on their crucial World Cup qualifier against Belgium, the night still provided considerable satisfaction for Tuchel’s approach.
Tuchel emphasized that he is selecting a team, not just individuals. He stated, “We are not collecting the most talented players. We are trying to build a team. Teams win trophies, no-one else.”
Given Bellingham’s star status, Tuchel’s selection was perceived as risky, even though it was a pragmatic choice considering the player had only started one game for Real Madrid following shoulder surgery.
While Bellingham may have desired inclusion, Tuchel was content to proceed without him, maintaining faith in the players who delivered the best result and performance of his tenure with a 5-0 victory over Serbia in the World Cup qualifier in Belgrade.
Adding further weight to Tuchel’s decision-making, Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, who excelled in Bellingham’s number 10 role, as he did in Belgrade, was England’s standout performer against Wales.
Based on England’s recent performances, Rogers is quickly becoming the embodiment of the new identity Tuchel aims to cultivate.
If Tuchel’s criteria are applied, Rogers now has the opportunity to solidify his place in the England squad, with another chance to impress against Latvia in Riga on Tuesday.
‘No energy’ – Tuchel unhappy at ‘silent’ Wembley
Vibrant England outclass Wales in Wembley friendly
England head coach Thomas Tuchel expresses his satisfaction after Morgan Rogers scores the opening goal against Wales at Wembley.
While Bellingham will undoubtedly be part of the World Cup squad, he is now more aware that his place in the starting lineup is not guaranteed.
He is no longer considered indispensable, and Tuchel is increasingly confident that England can perform effectively without him.
This victory was also achieved without the injured Cole Palmer, with Phil Foden of Manchester City absent from the squad, and with captain Harry Kane sidelined due to injury.
Tuchel’s calculated risk, on this occasion, paid off.
Had England faltered, Tuchel would have faced scrutiny. While criticism may still arise if the team fails to achieve the desired result in Riga, his beaming smile at the final whistle on this night was entirely justified.
Tuchel’s willingness to challenge England’s supporters for their perceived lack of backing in his post-match briefing reflects a high degree of self-assurance. While contentious, it is indicative of someone growing increasingly comfortable in his demanding role.
In Rogers, he has found a symbol for the direction he wants to take the team.
The dynamic 23-year-old set England on their way with his first international goal after just three minutes, a well-executed finish from close range. He then contributed to Ollie Watkins’s goal eight minutes later, before Bukayo Saka completed a dominant opening spell with a spectacular third after 20 minutes.
Rogers also struck the bar in the second half before being substituted to a standing ovation after 69 minutes.
He completed 19 of his 24 passes, created two chances, and scored a goal.
Tuchel commented, “Morgan is what he is. He is a number 10, and he is competing for his place. He is progressing well.”
“We are prepared for any team effort. Serbia was another example of teamwork. We created numerous chances. While we can utilize Harry Kane consistently, we need to be able to play without Harry and Jude, as they are currently injured.”
Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson earned his third England cap on Thursday night.
Former England defender Stephen Warnock told BBC Radio 5 Live: “Tuchel has been vindicated. The players named could all start for England, but he has big decisions to make.”
“His job isn’t to make players happy. His job is to come in and win a World Cup for England. That is the difficult job he has got to do. The difficult part is you’re going to upset people. You’re going to get people in the press asking about your decisions.”
“So far, the big decisions he has made have paid off, and it is looking in really good shape for England so far.”
He added: “At the moment it looks fantastic and they might be able to continue that against the best teams in the world. There will come a point when you need a Jude Bellingham, a Cole Palmer, to perhaps have an influence on the game. The great thing is, we’ve got the players.”
Rogers told BBC Radio 5 Live: “Not a bad night for sure. It’s a different team but it’s the same idea. It’s the same mindset. It’s the same thought and the same way we want to play.”
“The players that come in, the players that don’t come in, we all know what we are doing and we are feeding off each other and it’s a lovely place to be. It’s a lovely environment and it’s very nice to play for this team.”
Nottingham Forest’s Elliott Anderson is another player who has benefitted from Tuchel’s willingness to look beyond England’s established stars, delivering a third successive impressive performance.
Anderson’s consistent demand for the ball and his ability to keep England moving forward are hallmarks of his quality. He played 77 passes, 74 successfully, created two chances, and regained possession six times.
Tuchel added: “Morgan and Elliot are humble players and very talented and that is a very good mix.”
The German manager can now move forward from a position of strength, even stronger than after the win in Serbia. Securing another victory in Latvia would reinforce his conviction that he is building a team.
It would also serve as a clear reminder to Bellingham and others that Tuchel is determined to forge his own path towards next summer’s World Cup, with or without the Real Madrid midfielder.
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