England may still go into Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina short of goals, but Thomas Tuchel has at least been given a useful problem to solve: whether Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins can change the game from the bench.
That matters because England have looked heavily reliant on Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham for attacking inspiration, while Rogers and Watkins have seen limited action at the tournament. In a one-off semi-final, that kind of late attacking option can be decisive.
Tuchel was clearly impressed by Rogers after the win over Norway, where the midfielder came on late, moved to number eight and helped create the winning goal for Bellingham.
The England head coach said: “Rogers has taken an incredible step up in this completely new role, he is absolutely outstanding,”
It is high praise, and it tells you how much Tuchel values adaptability. Rogers is usually deployed as a number 10, but against Norway he showed he can be used in a different position and still influence the match. For England, that kind of flexibility could be crucial if the game against Argentina becomes tight.
Why Rogers could matter
Rogers has played only 90 minutes at this World Cup, despite being one of the more eye-catching attacking names in the squad. He was also part of England’s thinking at Euro 2024, though his latest role suggests Tuchel is prepared to use him in a more practical, match-shaping way.
He offers something different from the more familiar attacking structure around Kane and Bellingham. If England need fresh legs between the lines, Rogers can help link play and carry the ball into dangerous areas. That makes him a natural late-game option if Tuchel wants control without losing attacking threat.
Watkins remains a pure penalty-box threat
Watkins brings a different profile again. He is a pure number nine, with strong finishing and aerial ability, and he has already shown he can deliver in a knockout moment. At Euro 2024, Watkins scored the winner against the Netherlands.
His World Cup involvement has been even more limited than Rogers’. During the tournament, Watkins played just six minutes against Panama. That means his impact against Argentina would come with very little recent game time, but his qualities are obvious enough for Tuchel to trust if England need a direct finisher.
England’s issue is not simply creating chances. It is turning pressure into goals. If Kane and Bellingham are again the main sources of threat, then Tuchel may need a second wave of attackers to keep Argentina under stress late on.
That is where Rogers and Watkins come in. One can link and carry; the other can finish and attack crosses. In a semi-final, that kind of contrast can matter more than reputation or minutes played.
The bigger picture is simple. England face Argentina on Wednesday with a place in the World Cup final at stake, and Tuchel will know that the game may be settled by his changes as much as by his starters. If the match is tight, Rogers and Watkins may be the two names that give the Three Lions a different route to victory.
