Tuchel Hands England Start to Gordon as Croatia Go Three at the Back

England begin their UEFA Nations League A Group 3 campaign against Croatia at Wembley with Thomas Tuchel's first competitive starting XI confirmed. Anthony Gordon starts. Daniel Burn starts. Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson are in midfield. Croatia, under Slaven Bilić, arrive with a back three.

The teamsheet settles the shape question before a ball is kicked. England line up 4-3-3. Croatia line up 3-4-2-1. That is the framework both managers have chosen for the opening night of the group.

Rice and Anderson in the same midfield is the selection that stands out. Rice is the established anchor. Anderson's inclusion alongside him gives England two ball-players in central areas rather than one holder and two advanced runners. Gordon's start on the left of the front three gives Tuchel a direct runner from wide, a player who attacks the space behind a wing-back rather than checking to feet.

Burn's presence in the back four is the other confirmed call. At 4-3-3, England's full-backs can push high and Burn's role is to hold the left side of the defence. Croatia's front three will test whether that holds.

Bilić has gone with 3-4-2-1. The shape gives Croatia three centre-backs, two wing-backs, a midfield pair and two attacking midfielders behind a single striker. Against England's 4-3-3, that creates a deliberate mismatch: Croatia will have a spare man at the back, England will have a spare man in midfield. The game will be decided by which side makes that extra player count.

Dominik Livaković starts in goal. Croatia's structure suggests they will defend in a five when England have the ball, with the two attacking midfielders dropping to screen the space in front of the back three. England's midfield three will have to circulate the ball quickly to pull that block apart.

Tuchel has picked a team to control the ball and press. Rice and Anderson together is a passing midfield, not a destructive one. Gordon's pace on the left is the out-ball. Burn's inclusion is a defensive call, not an attacking one.

Bilić has picked a team to absorb and counter. The back three is a platform for the wing-backs to get forward without leaving the centre-backs exposed. The two attacking midfielders are the link between the deep block and the lone striker.

The group table starts level. England and Croatia both know a home win at Wembley is the foundation of a campaign. Tuchel's first competitive selection is in. Bilić's response is in. Kick-off is next.