Ezri Konsa started in defence for England’s World Cup opener against Croatia in Dallas, while Morgan Rogers was left on the bench. Thomas Tuchel also kept Ollie Watkins among the substitutes, giving England a selection built around Jude Bellingham at No 10 and a bench meant to change the match.
Tuchel backs Bellingham
Before kick-off, Tuchel said it had been a close call to go with Bellingham instead of Rogers
and added the need for a bench capable of changing the match
. That left Rogers waiting for his chance despite his rise last season at Aston Villa, where he became one of Unai Emery’s most important attacking players.
Villa presence in England
Konsa’s start put Aston Villa directly into England’s first XI for the opener. He has become one of the clearest examples of how far Villa’s level has risen under Emery, and his selection gave the club a visible place in a high-profile tournament match.
Rogers’ omission from the starting line-up carried more weight because of the role he has already played for Aston Villa. He has earned his stage with the speed, power and fearlessness that drove his rise last season, yet England chose Bellingham in the central attacking role instead.
Ghana and Panama ahead
With England’s World Cup opener against Croatia done, the wider Villa thread now runs into the remaining group games against Ghana and Panama. Konsa has his place in the starting line-up; Rogers and Watkins are left trying to force their way in from the bench.
