Marc Guehi in, John Stones out and how England SHOULD line up against Ghana as Three Lions aim to secure place in 2026 World Cup knockout rounds

Jordan Pickford was unspectacular in England's opening game, all said. He might have done better with Croatia's first goal, and didn't make a serious save until the final 15 minutes of the game. He spent most of his time, in fact, doing quite a bit of performative waving and shouting at his defence (something he does quite a lot).

But with goalkeepers, sometimes no news is good news. Pickford didn't do anything wrong. He's England's number one, no matter what, and he will be between the sticks again.

Reece James didn't have the best game against Croatia - nor did the rest of the England defence, all said.

He was nowhere to be found as Croatia carved up the space between him and Ezri Konsa to equalise for the second time, and some of his signature production with the ball was a bit lacking, too. An impressive cameo from Djed Spence suggested that James shouldn't feel totally comfortable, either.

However, he still has more quality than his rivals for the role, and has enough credit in the bank to get the chance to make an impact again.

With the benefit of hindsight, Ezri Konsa was pretty average in England's opener. His flat-footedness in the build-up to Croatia's second goal, for example, can can absolutely be called into question.

Despite that, he deserves a shot to be back in the side here. Konsa still has the tools - recovery pace, aerial prowess, an eye for a pass - to be incredibly valuable to this side. Besides, he was excellent in the Premier League all season. Croatia was an off game; he will soon prove himself.

Stones was entrusted with a starting role by Tuchel in the opener, and he didn't quite repay his manager's faith. Sure, the Man City defender has always been reliable for England, but he looked every bit a player who made just 18 appearances at club level last season.

Stones was shaky on the ball and slow to react off it. There's still a player there, to be sure, but it looks like Stones needs weeks - not days - to work his way back to game fitness.

Unfortunately, you don't have that kind of time at tournaments. Enter Guehi, a man who many thought should have started the opening game alongside Konsa. He came off the bench to hold things down late on Dallas, and should now be handed a starting berth on Tuesday.

That would mean England starting a tournament match without Stones for the first time since the Iceland debacle at Euro 2016, which admittedly doesn't bode well. But the Three Lions are a different team now to what they were a decade ago, and Guehi has enough tournament experience himself for that not to become an issue.

England's defence looked nervy as a unit in the opening game, but as an individual, Nico O'Reilly really struggled.

His attacking numbers were as impressive as expected, up there for dribbles, chances created and final third entries, but his defensive output was far more of a mixed bag. He won only half of his duels, was dribbled past twice, and looked a little uncertain at times, meaning England's left flank was far too easily exploited when Croatia broke.

The issue is that England don't really have a good back-up option. Dan Burn doesn't inspire confidence, and nor do Jarell Quansah, who Tuchel highlighted as a back up full-back. With Tino Livramento out injured, it's O'Reilly or bust right now.

Declan Rice was replaced against Croatia after 72 minutes, and looked a little unsteady as he walked off the pitch. Tuchel was quizzed about the decision to take off his main man in midfield, and the German admitted that Rice had picked up a knock of some kind. It was subsequently reported that the Arsenal midfielder has been nursing hamstring pain for the last six months.

Alarm bells were, of course, immediately set off, but Tuchel insisted that Rice told him he would be good to go against Ghana, and he has trained normally in the run up to this week's game.

It is absolutely crucial that Rice stays fit - perhaps even more so than Harry Kane up front. All seems well for now, and England will have to pray it stays that way.

Another key cog, Anderson struggled in the opening exchanges against Croatia, but really settled into the game as things wore on.

It was, in fact, a singular, crucial pass from the Nottingham Forest man that opened things up for good. Just after the break, he played a raking ball down the line for Bellingham, who latched onto it and scored England's third. That moment, combined with 45 minutes of tidy midfield play, showed exactly what Anderson can bring to this team.

For so long, England have needed a third midfielder to settle the centre of the park. Jordan Henderson does not quite fit that mould, but Anderson has shown that he can be the long-term answer. Tuchel has trusted him for months, and there's no reason to suggest that he won't continue to do so.

Tuchel admitted after the game that he had a difficult time deciding between Bellingham and Morgan Rogers for his much-coveted No.10 spot. It's a tricky decision, too. Rogers isn't as talented as Bellingham, but he has produced the goods for Aston Villa all season - and also done his bit for England when called upon.

But Bellingham got the start, and after a shaky 45 minutes, he grabbed the contest with both hands. He bagged the crucial third goal, and then spent the rest of the second half bossing the midfield while being deployed as both a No.8 and No.10.

If Rice or Anderson need a rest, Bellingham can drop deeper, and Rogers could be afforded his opportunity, as was the case in the second half against Croatia. Otherwise, though, this is Bellingham's spot to lose.

Noni Madueke may not be the starter for long, but he showed enough in the opener to suggest that he is far more than an emergency back-up option. Operating on the right, the Arsenal man was England's brightest player in the first half in Dallas, time and time again stretching play and taking on his man. He seemed to tire a bit as things wore on, and was rightfully subbed, but he is still a solid fit in this system.

Of course, his time will run out soon. Bukayo Saka is reaching full fitness, and Tuchel confirmed that Arsenal's 'star boy' will be ready to start by the time the third group game against Panama rolls around. That will leave Madueke as an extra option off the bench. Until then, he is a more-than serviceable starter who will push Saka all the way.

Maybe Kane just needed to see a penalty not hit the back of the net to shake a few nerves off,? In truth, the striker was perhaps a bit lucky that Josko Gvardiol encroached and Dominik Livakovic came off his line simultaneously to ensure that his otherwise pretty shoddy spot-kick had to be retaken.

But he rebounded in fine fashion, and ended the evening with two goals. There's no need to overthink things here: Kane is England's best player and one of the best in the world. Get him in the team, no matter what.

This was a tough one heading into Wednesday, and it is equally tricky now.

Gordon did his part against Croatia and made things really awkward for their backline. Even if his impact with the ball wasn't quite there, he offered so much with his pace and willingness to run when he knew that he perhaps would not receive a pass.

There were some calls for Rashford to start, and he certainly made a case. His goal was nicely taken, and he took advatnage of the fact that the game had opened up a little more by the time he entered the fray. Tuchel praised Rashford, too, for being more 'decisive' in the final third.

Perhaps this is a case of the starters and finishers. Gordon is an excellent starter, Rashford is an even better finisher, and so it should remain.