England have finalised their World Cup XI with one big winner and one loser

INTER & CO STADIUM – After the storm clouds finally cleared, so did the fog of the phony war for Thomas Tuchel.

A week out from the World Cup opener against Croatia and Tuchel’s message was as loud as the thunder that rumbled around downtown Orlando, pushing back the kick-off of this leg loosener against Costa Rica. This, with the exception of the unfortunate Noni Madueke, is England’s team to take on the world.

The big winner in that developing scenario? Barcelona new boy Anthony Gordon, who responded immaculately to Marcus Rashford slamming down the gauntlet at the weekend against New Zealand with a statement of intent of his own.

Rashford had been good in the drudgery of the New Zealand game. But Gordon seems to get the attacking combinations that little bit better than the man he’s replacing at the Nou Camp. In the end that’s probably going to give him the edge when the action gets underway in Dallas next week.

Gordon created Rice’s opener against Costa Rica (Photo: Getty)