World Cup 2026: Uncertain John Stones, England boss Thomas Tuchel pushing for Mark Guihy to withdraw after Ejri Konsa performance against Croatia | football news

England’s attack was on fire against Croatia but their defense was far less convincing in Dallas.

The centre-back partnership of Ejri Konsa and John Stones raised eyebrows ahead of England’s World Cup opener, selections meant Mark Guihy was left on the bench and mistakes by both starters in the build-up to Croatia’s two goals supported those pre-match suspicions.

“Is Consa and the Stones a partnership that can win us the World Cup?” Such a question was raised by Dr Sky Sports Pundit Gary Neville at half-time on Wednesday ITVAfter seeing Stones go to ground before Croatia’s first goal and Konsa misjudged a chipped pass before their second goal.

“(Midfielders Declan) Rice and (Elliott) Anderson will have to be outstanding and our defense will have to defend more than they did in the first half,” Neville said.

On top of the defensive errors, England had a tangled game deep in the half, with Stones and Konsa each guilty of giving up possession when faced with intense, high pressure from Croatia.

While Stones and Konsa posted full-time passing accuracy numbers, other stats didn’t read well.

Stones made just one tackle, which didn’t come, and a clearance in his 87th minute. He won four of his seven duels.

Konsa won just three of his eight duels, one of his five aerial duels and had no tackles or interceptions.

“We probably lacked something defensively,” Jamie Carragher said Sky Sports News The following morning, some gloom poured over England’s World Cup prospects, lifted by an electrifying second-half attacking display against Croatia.

But restoring Guehi to the starting line-up for Tuesday’s next World Cup Group L game against Ghana could change that narrative. His stats in the last Premier League season show that he can fight more than Stones and Konsa.

The Manchester City defender was Gareth Southgate’s first-choice pick at the Euros two years ago, where England’s perception of strength was the opposite: strong at the back, weak in attack.

Guehi, now 25, has since gone to another level. He stepped up seamlessly to City when they signed him from Crystal Palace in January, winning the FA Cup winners’ medal for the second year in a row to underline his development in May.

Since making his Premier League debut for City in January, Guehi has ranked among the best in the division in both defensive and ball-playing metrics. Guehi finished 10th for possessions won in the defensive third, fourth for interceptions and sixth for forward passes, fifth for passes completed during that time.

Crucially, it is Stones who suffers from Guehi’s arrival. Before that, he could not get a place in the city team.

Stones, who left City at the end of his contract this summer, made it clear he was fit and available for selection during the run-in. But City boss Pep Guardiola prefers Gueye. So what is England manager Thomas Tuchel?

Stones has played just five times for Man City in 2026. He started just five Premier League games for them last year – and City lost four of them.

Tuchel, however, is a big fan of Stones and has made allowances for taking him to this World Cup, valuing his experience, leadership, defensive skills and quality on the ball.

So if Tuchel is keen to include Stones, was it a mistake against Croatia to start him on the left of a centre-back pairing with Konsa, who is used to playing on the right?

Tuchel gave the combination a trial run against Costa Rica in the final warm-up match. But in the modern era of specificity, it is notable that Stones rarely played that side for City.

He has recorded just 371 minutes at left centre-back over the past three seasons. He racked up 1,151 minutes at right back.

In contrast, Guehi spent most of his career on the left despite being right-footed. He notably played on the left of the back three at Palace.

Like Stones, Gueye has the ability to adapt to play in both areas – and has played on the right of a centre-back pairing at times for City – but those details can make a difference.

“When you’ve been playing one side for a long time and you switch to the other side, it can throw you off a little bit,” says Guihy. Sky Sports In December

Recalling Guihy and moving Stones back to his more familiar right-side centre-back pairing could restore some stability and security to the backline. Tuchel featured in England’s first World Cup warm-up with New Zealand and looks likely to be the preferred combination at the tournament.

But then what is the regular consa for Tuchel?

Only goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and captain Harry Kane have played more minutes for England under Tuchel. Guihy has actually started more games at centre-back for England under Tuchel partnering Cons than Stones.

It would be cruel if CONSA loses its place after just one World Cup game which, don’t forget, England won.

An alternative idea would be for Tuchel to field all three of those players against Ghana.

Konsa played at right-back with Stones and Guehy at centre-back against Wales in October and it’s clear that Aston Villa profile Tuchel in that position, having physically ruled out the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold in favor of defenders.

Reece James will then come out of the squad a knock-on, despite winning plaudits for the way he stepped into midfield late in the game against Croatia.

James Tuchel seems to be the preferred right-back choice. He has started five times for Tuchel in the position, the most of any player in this era.

But given James’ injury record, there’s merit to the argument for him handling the starting minutes in this tournament. James has started England’s last two matches against Costa Rica and Croatia, but has not started back-to-back games for Chelsea since March.

Although England’s qualification and final position in Group L is still to be determined, will the last game of the group against a weak Panama rather than Ghana be the time to do so?

There are many factors at play. But if England are to balance their attacking qualities with defensive solidity and go all the way, Tuchel will need to come up with the right combination at the right time through this World Cup.