Tuchel backs 'feeling' to start Morgan Rogers in England's World Cup semi-final against USA

Thomas Tuchel has named Morgan Rogers in England’s starting eleven for their World Cup semi-final, telling reporters he has a “feeling” the 23-year-old Aston Villa midfielder can produce “something special” in Atlanta.

Rogers is set to operate on the right side — not his natural position — after catching the eye with an energetic cameo during extra time in the quarter-final win over Norway. Tuchel said a strong training session in the days that followed only reinforced his conviction.

“It’s a feeling, it’s just a feeling from the coach, a stomach feeling,” Tuchel said. “I feel that he has something special to give today. I felt he was very strong in the last match against Norway. And in between he had an outstanding training session to just follow up on that performance. Yeah, it’s just a feeling.”

This will be Rogers’ second start of the tournament. He featured in the 2-0 group-stage win over Panama but was unused against DR Congo in the last 32 and played just one minute against Mexico in the last 16. The midfielder arrives at this stage of the competition on the back of a standout Premier League season — 10 goals and six assists — and a Europa League triumph under Unai Emery at Aston Villa.

Rogers had appeared to be in Tuchel’s preferred eleven before the tournament began, though he lost his place to Jude Bellingham, who has since excelled in the number ten role.

Tuchel, who has yet to name an unchanged line-up at this World Cup, has also reshuffled his defence. Reece James and Djed Spence come in for Ezri Konsa and Nico O’Reilly. James missed the Mexico victory with a hamstring problem but returned from the bench against Norway, while Spence also impressed as a substitute in the quarter-finals.

“Well, they’re specialists and they deserve to play,” Tuchel said. “Reece is back and has the quality to play on the very highest level. He shows no nerves. And we want the agility and the speed of Djed. He was very strong in the last matches from the bench and I think we need to get the full-backs involved in our attacks.”

A win in Atlanta would send England through to the World Cup final against Spain.