England’s manager, Thomas Tuchel, expressed his “feeling” to include Morgan Rogers in the lineup for the crucial World Cup semi-final. Tuchel believes Rogers has the potential to deliver “something special” in Atlanta.
Although Rogers is expected to play on the right side—a position he’s not most comfortable in—his performance in the quarter-final against Norway showcased his energy and impact during extra time.
The 23-year-old midfielder from Aston Villa concluded a remarkable Premier League season, netting 10 goals and providing six assists, helping his team secure the Europa League title under Unai Emery.
Morgan Rogers made a significant impact for England in the quarter-finals against Norway (Getty)
Prior to the tournament, Rogers seemed set to be part of Tuchel’s first-choice lineup, but he was edged out by childhood friend Jude Bellingham, who has since made a name for himself in the No 10 role.
This semi-final marks Rogers’ second start in the tournament, following his appearance during England’s 2-0 victory over Panama in the group stages. Tuchel noted that Rogers performed impressively during training this week.
“It’s an instinctive decision from the coach,” Tuchel shared with the BBC. “I believe he has the capability to do something exceptional today. He displayed strength in the last match against Norway, and his training session has been outstanding since then.”
Having started the group stage match against Panama, Rogers didn’t see action in the last-32 clash with DR Congo and only played for one minute against Mexico in the last-16.
Tuchel has yet to name an unchanged lineup throughout the World Cup, making adjustments to his defense by including Reece James and Djed Spence over Ezri Konsa and Nico O’Reilly.
James returned from a hamstring injury to play a valuable role off the bench against Norway, while Spence was also impressive as a substitute in the quarter-finals.
Djed Spence is set to start at left back, while Reece James returns to the defense (Getty)
“They are specialists and truly deserve to play,” Tuchel commented. “Reece is back and possesses the quality for the highest level; he shows no signs of nerves. We also require the agility and speed from Djed, who has performed admirably in recent matches from the bench. We need our full-backs to engage in our offensive plays.”