Joe Cole warns Thomas Tuchel over England mistake before Croatia opener

Joe Cole has warned Thomas Tuchel that England’s World Cup campaign could “not end well” if the manager falls into the familiar trap of trying to fit too many star names into the same team.

England begin their tournament against Croatia in Dallas on 17 June, with Tuchel still weighing up several selection decisions after a disrupted build-up.

The injury to Tino Livramento has forced a late defensive change, while the debate around England’s attacking midfield options continues to dominate discussion ahead of kick-off.

Speaking to Metro, Cole praised Tuchel’s early approach but warned that England must avoid drifting back into habits that affected previous tournament cycles.

The former England winger believes Gareth Southgate initially built success around structure, unity and clear roles, only for selection pressure to grow once several players became established stars.

Cole argued that Tuchel has so far reset that dynamic by making it clear that the system comes before individual reputation.

“If he falls back into those old ways, it’s not going to end well.”

That warning appears particularly relevant as Tuchel considers whether Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers can both start in the same side.

Bellingham is expected to be in pole position to start as England’s No10 against Croatia, but Rogers has made a strong case for involvement.

Tuchel has previously suggested both players could feature together, with Rogers also capable of operating from the right.

Cole, however, believes England must resist turning every selection call into a direct rivalry between individuals.

the balance between talent and structure has repeatedly become the defining issue. Tuchel’s challenge is to build a side that functions naturally rather than simply collecting the most decorated names.

Cole also stressed that tournament football requires players to accept different roles.

Some will start every major match, others may play only limited minutes, and some may not feature at all. The key, in his view, is whether the squad can stay united regardless of individual frustration.

That message matters because England’s attacking depth is considerable. Harry Kane, Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, Noni Madueke and Rogers all offer different qualities, but only a limited number can start.

Tuchel’s task is to turn those options into a coherent team.

England’s opener against Croatia will offer the first real indication of Tuchel’s tournament thinking. The group stage also includes matches against Ghana and Panama, but tougher tests are likely to arrive later if England progress.

Cole believes performances against elite opponents such as Argentina, Brazil or Spain will reveal the true ceiling of this team. For now, the immediate question is whether Tuchel sticks with his own structure or allows reputation to influence his first major World Cup selection.

Should Tuchel start Bellingham and Rogers together, or would that risk repeating England’s old mistake of forcing too many stars into one system?