England got their World Cup 2026 preparations underway with a 1-0 win over New Zealand in Florida.
Thomas Tuchel had his club manager hat on for the game, changing his entire XI at half-time in an early pre-season friendly-esque move. The German was still missing a few core players, with Arsenal stars still yet to join following the Champions League final.
Harry Kane scored the only goal of the game just before half-time, his 79th strike for England. But the tempo didn’t really pick up in either half, with minutes more important than the performance.
Still, what did this game tell us?
England vs New Zealand analysis:
Marcus Rashford’s impressive half
Marcus Rashford had his spot in the first-half XI on the left, with a chance to stake his claim on the left wing from the off. And he did his chances of starting against Croatia no harm.
The Barcelona loanee was England’s most-dangerous attacker in the first half, in terms of trying to create and get the ball in dangerous positions. He had 37 touches in the first half, the most of England’s front four, with the Three Lions very much favouring the left. After all, they had a striker at right-wing and centre-back at right-back.
Rashford had five touches in the opposition box, the most of any player in the first half, and completed one of his two attempted take-ons. He led the first-half team for chances created, with five, and also attempted crosses on seven. Rashford was on corners, which will have upped his crossing numbers, but he certainly tested the New Zealand defence with his deliveries.
Rashford did also test his luck a few times, with two shots from range. Neither hit the target, but we know that he can finish those chances. Using a friendly to get his eye in is no bad thing.
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Tuchel’s changing gameplans
When news broke of Tuchel playing two XIs, the immediate reports were that Tuchel would use the same tactics for both. It was purely about getting minutes into the players’ legs.
But there was a difference, which was good to see. Signs that Tuchel does have more than one plan. In the first half, England went heavy on the crosses, attempting 17. Rashford attempted the most with seven, but Morgan Rogers also attempted three, and Djed Spence and Jordan Henderson, two, among others.
It was a smart gameplan with both Kane and Ollie Watkins on the pitch. Although Watkins started on the right wing he was able to drift inside to support Kane as a second striker at times. When Kane got his head onto a Spence cross for the only goal of the game, Watkins was behind him ready in case his captain had missed the ball.
But in the second half, England only attempted 10 crosses. While that was still a decent number, England’s gameplan was more about getting to the byline before cutting in. The styles of Rio Ngumoha and Anthony Gordon played a part here, though they both attempted two crosses. Reece James was the main crosser of the second half, attempting five. Like Rashford, though, that number was inflated by set-pieces.
Now, only four of those 27 crosses were successful. So there’s a bit of work to be done there.
Source of goals still a worry
You cannot completely analyse this England team and their World Cup chances based on what was basically a pre-season friendly. It would not be wise to do that. But, there were still good and bad signs that could be taken from it. And one bad sign was England’s struggles in front of goal.
England are blessed to have a goalscorer like Kane in their team. Only three players have scored more goals for their national team among those set to take part at the 2026 World Cup than Kane’s 79. The Three Lions know that they can rely on him most of the time.
But if Kane were to get injured, or fatigued? Or just have a bad day at the office? England may struggle there. And quality in squad depth feels like it will be key at the World Cup this summer.
England had 23 shots against New Zealand in Tampa, but only hit the target four times. Kane was responsible for three of those efforts on target, and he went off the pitch at half-time! Anthony Gordon was the only other England player to have a shot on target, testing the goalkeeper with one of his two efforts.
Including Kane and Gordon, 14 different England players had a shot against New Zealand. The problem was, a lot of them were speculative efforts. A few more were decent efforts from set-pieces, including Dan Burn hitting the post early in the second half. Set-pieces have done the trick for England before, notably at the 2018 World Cup. But there’s no Harry Maguire this time around.
As mentioned, it was only a friendly, with pre-season vibes. But it’s no doubt something some England fans will have in the back of their minds over the next 11 days.
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