Henry Winter

Football journalist.🎙️The Football Boardroom. 📻 Sunday Edition talkSPORT. ✍️ World Soccer. 📕Obsession. Enquiries [email protected]

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

@RodneyMarsh10 Many congratulations, Rodney, to you and your family. So well-deserved. 🙌🙌

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

Ivan Toney has a “special role” for England, Thomas Tuchel says. The 30-year-old striker was considered off the radar playing in the Saudi league for Al-Ahli. But Tuchel saw Toney bringing some different attacking qualities.

“Ivan was very impressive in training, and he plays a special role in our team. He gives us the possibility if we dominate and if we have a lot of functions in and around the box, he gives us a chance to play with Harry (Kane) and take attention off of central defenders (and create space for Kane).

“He’s strong in finishing and strong at set-pieces. Yes, one big chance today that he missed, but it was offside, so this let him off the hook. But he trains very well. And he's a very important team member because he connects with everyone, very social, very happy with him.” #ENG

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

@Crozzy1971 It’s a fair point Crozzy. He was hardly mentioned in the buildup to the squad announcement tbf

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

Thomas Tuchel sees Nico O’Reilly as an attacking left-back. He played central midfield in the low-key 1-0 win over New Zealand. O’Reilly obviously played there earlier in his Manchester City development and for England age-groups. “Normally, as a left-back,” Tuchel says of his view of O’Reilly. “But we have nine defenders for eight positions today, and the position from Declan Rice was free.” Rice now reports to England after some rest following Arsenal’s Champions League final exertions.

Tuchel highlighted O’Reilly’s buccaneering strengths from the back. “And even if he plays left-back, he plays as a left-8 and left-10. We saw him many times playing for Pep (Guardiola) in this position for Man City, so we thought, maybe we just do it. But he trains the majority of the time as a left defender. I think both is possible.” This gives some context as to why Lewis Hall was overlooked. Also has Tino Livramento and Djed Spence who can play left-back. O'Reilly *likely* to start left-back v Croatia, inverting into midfield. #ENG #ENGNZL #MCFC

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

The land of the free-style. Thomas Tuchel said England played “too much freestyle in the first half” of the uninspiring 1-0 friendly win over New Zealand here in Tampa. “On the right side we were lacking width,” Tuchel said. That was partly because he started a centre-forward, Ollie Watkins, on the right wing.

One of Tuchel's many qualities is his willingness to provide detail to situations. He explains. “Players (Watkins) were coming inside in so many moments, (inside) 20 metres of the pitch and narrowing ourselves down, and then slowing ourselves down, and then changing positions for too long."

“It's not a problem to change positions, but to find the position again, so that everyone knows how to start your attack, and then you can just accelerate the game easier. We had a lot of long-range shots which is not our style of play. We played a lot of long balls. We played a lot of long passes. That was not part of training in the last four days. In the second half, I liked (England’s play) more.”

Tuchel said that Jude Bellingham’s arrival at half-time helped. “You can see Jude, for sure, has the decisiveness, the bite, this is the key characteristic (of his). But you can see that he comes from an injury (two months with a hamstring), and he's full of energy, and then happy to be back on the pitch.

"He had his break, unfortunately, in a decisive part of the season, Champions League season, and for the championship in Spain. So this was very unfortunate for Real Madrid and for him personally, but you can see now that he is actually in a sweet spot, he comes back, he's fresh, he wants to play, and he's in top shape”. #ENG #ENGNZL

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

“England were good but they need to be better than today if they are to win the World Cup.” Darren Bazeley, New Zealand head coach. #ENGNZ

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

You could tell where the England hard-core home-and-away fans were in the stadium by the proud ignoring of the Mexican Wave.

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

@MichaelLofthou5 There was a certain irony in the learning element. We knew anyway, Michael. But the key thing is Bellingham again. There’s an acceptance in many quarters that Rogers should start. I disagree with that so apologies for repeating it.

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

England 1 New Zealand 0. Report from Raymond James Stadium, Tampa. We learned exactly what? That Harry Kane is vital. Marcus Rashford is in the mood and in form (they go together). Elliot Anderson is class. Rio Ngumoha lovely on his debut - on the right (wrong) flank. And that Jude Bellingham has to start.

When Bellingham got off the coach, he was loudly cheered by 400+ England fans waiting. Only Kane got close to such a reception. When Bellingham ran out for the second half, and his name was announced, England fans amongst the 25,889 crowd again cheered loudly. Bellingham is appreciated because he makes things happen.

Thomas Tuchel has mainly favoured Morgan Rogers at 10. Tuchel sees Bellingham in training, can assess the blends of players and personalities, and what suits the team best. So it was good that Tuchel handed the armband to Bellingham when Kane went off at the break.

It shows that England’s head coach does trust Bellingham, that the 22-year-old – still only 22 – can embrace the responsibility. This was his 47th cap, he’s heading into his fourth tournament with England, Bellingham deserves Tuchel’s belief. 

Bellingham has to start for England. At 10. Coming on at the break, he immediately made a difference to the pace and focus of England's movement in the final third. Such clever movement, gliding stealthily into space. His touch and awareness of team-mates' positions allows him to pick them out first time. England will need that speed of ball progression.

Offers a goal threat, raiding the box or shooting, first one blocked, second one wide. His footwork and awareness around the box was again impressive, and Kane will surely benefit from being in tandem with Bellingham. Elite operators. For England to progress far at the World Cup, Bellingham has to start. #ENG #ENGNZ

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

@officialinzi82 Totally agree. As mentioned 85th in the world. We’ve been down this road before. And we learned what we already knew. Kane etc. but the Bellingham point needs making and remaking

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

25,889 #ENGNZ

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

Tinker in Tampa. 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha gets his England debut – on the right. Nico O'Reilly midfield. All change. England now: Trafford; James, Konsa, Burn, Livramento; Anderson, O’Reilly; Ngumoha, Bellingham, Gordon; Toney.

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

Ollie Watkins on the right? Tough on him, out of position, it's not really worked. Watkins has tried hard, but he’s not really played wide since Brentford BMW days. Does his best work at Aston Villa as a centre-forward (108 in 278). But he still wasted a very good chance following great thinking and delivery from Jordan Henderson. #ENG #ENGNZ

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

Half-time report, England leading New Zealand, ranked 85th in the world, and they’re playing “Football’s Coming Home”. One-nil to the England. Harry Kane inevitably, 79th in 114. Djed Spence cross, flicked header. It’s a day for poaching. 30C. Kane as influential as ever, dropping deep at times, and getting in the box. Vital.

Other positives...

1. Marcus Rashford very lively on the left. Pace, crossing, looking for Spence overlap, loves a knuckleball. Looks absolutely up for the World Cup. Barca, Barca, sign him up.

2. John Stones bringing the ball out, effortless. Stones has played only 331 minutes for Manchester City since December 3. Calf, thigh and selection (Khusanov playing well) reasons. But looks ready for the World Cup (echoes of Euro 2024).

3. Jordan Henderson pressing and passing, good vision, lovely ball to Watkins, but nb hardly being closed down.
#ENG #ENGNZ

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

Match organisers and FA pay tribute to Bobby Tambling, Chelsea legend who played three times for England. Fans applauded his memory. Tambling passed away last week, aged 84. RIP.

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

England v New Zealand #ENGNZ

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

A game of two teams for England. First half: Pickford; Quansah, Stones, Guehi, Spence; J Henderson, Mainoo; Rogers; Watkins, Rashford, Kane. Tuchel says he’ll then play another XI. Coaches on the pitch, checking the pitch bounce, seems OK. Those who’ve been down on the pitch say it has knitted. But concerns more out wide where a couple of lines suggest it hasn’t joined fully. #ENGNZ

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

England merch. Fistful of dollars. #ENG

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

Harry Kane leads England off the bus at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium. Great reception from fans on either side of entrance. Fans in shirts proclaiming Bellingham, Saka, Mainoo, Owen, Vardy and more. #ENG

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

Tampa pitch. #ENG