Declan Rice made captain as Thomas Tuchel makes seven changes to England starting XI

Thomas Tuchel has made seven changes to his starting XI for England’s World Cup third place play-off against France.

Captain Harry Kane is on the bench, meaning Declan Rice wears the armband to begin with in Miami, live on talkSPORT.

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Rice is one of only four players to retain his place in the line-up with Marc Guehi, Djed Spence and Morgan Rogers the others to survive the cull.

There’s also a starting spot for former Brentford striker Ivan Toney, while Dean Henderson starts in goal to make his World Cup debut.

Despite the numerous changes, Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo remains on the bench.

Mainoo is yet to register a competitive minute for the Three Lions in North America this summer having been a surprise call-up ahead of the likes of Adam Wharton and James Garner.

It comes after the England head coach was criticised by former Premier League manager Neil Warnock for his treatment of the young midfielder this summer.

Jarell Quansah returns having served a two-match ban for his dismissal against Mexico and starts at right-back. Ezri Konsa returns to the heart of defence having been a substitute against Argentina and Eberechi Eze joins Rice and Rogers in midfield.

Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford have also come into the side, with Morgan Rogers moving into the no.10 role.

England XI: D. Henderson Quansah, Konsa, Guehi, Spence, Rice, Eze, Rogers, Saka, Toney, Rashford

Consolation game

England’s hopes of winning a first major piece of international silverware since 1966 were dashed against Argentina in midweek.

Anthony Gordon fired England ahead ten minutes into the second half.

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However, Tuchel’s changes saw England sit deeper as Argentina pushed forward in search of an equaliser.

Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez struck late on to break England hearts as the 2022 winners set up a final showdown with 2010 victors Spain on Sunday.

‘Not in our DNA’

And after the game, Tuchel criticised England’s ‘football DNA‘ for their World Cup exit, rather than his tactics.

“In this moment my feeling was no structure in the world could have helped us,” he said.

“Because actually we were too passive and we were not physical enough, we didn’t stop runners arriving in our box and the deliveries were wrong too.

“I haven’t seen the data yet, but I think just right after the goal the momentum swings completely and ball possession drops dramatically.

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“We couldn’t find any duels anymore; that’s why we dropped deeper and deeper. It was never the plan, but it happened.

“(We) couldn’t stop the runners from the second line, the midfielders, through our gaps, and the deliveries were on the highest level.

“You need to get back on the ball; otherwise you cannot break the pressure, and you cannot get the momentum back.

“I think ball possession plays a crucial role; it’s maybe not in our DNA like it is in our Spanish DNA or in our Argentinian-Brazilian DNA, to take the ball and control the game with the ball.”