Bellingham will have been happy to take the armband, O’Reilly is a midfield option but Stones looks a weak link

England may as well pack their bags and go home if Harry Kane picks up an injury. The captain laboured through Euro 2024, leaving some to wonder if his international career was winding down, but there is no doubting his importance before the World Cup. It had to be Kane calming the nerves as England warmed up with a win over New Zealand in testing conditions in Tampa.

• Coach unhappy with players’ positional awareness

• Style was ‘not part of our training in last four days’

Thomas Tuchel was unhappy with England’s “freestyle” performance in the first half of their 1-0 win over New Zealand but the head coach was pleased with Jude Bellingham’s impact as a substitute in Tampa.

Harry Kane’s goal just before half-time was the difference in a forgettable encounter at Raymond James Stadium and there was plenty for Tuchel to ponder after his side failed to capture the imagination in their penultimate warm-up game before the World Cup.