Stephen Warnock names his England XI for Argentina semi-final and backs Tuchel’s side to win 3-1

Stephen Warnock has named the England team he expects Thomas Tuchel to pick for the World Cup semi-final against Argentina - and he's backed England to reach the final with a 3-1 win.

Speaking exclusively to The Football Historian on behalf of BetTOM, the former Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers and England defender believes Tuchel will likely bring Reece James back in at right-back, with Ezri Konsa returning at centre-back, despite John Stones impressing in the win over Norway.

“This is a difficult one,” Warnock said. “If you look at the right-back position, you’d almost say a fully fit Reece James should start in that right-back position, as Konsa has done nothing wrong at centre-half.

“But then you look at how John Stones played in the Norway game and you think, well, how do you change that up? I think he’ll probably revert to Reece James and Ezri Konsa, and then you’ll play O’Reilly at left-back.”

Stephen Warnock’s predicted England XI vs Argentina

Position	Warnock’s pick
Goalkeeper	Pickford
Right-back	Reece James
Centre-back	Ezri Konsa
Centre-back	Marc Guehi
Left-back	Nico O’Reilly
Midfield	Elliot Anderson
Midfield	Declan Rice
Midfield	Jude Bellingham
Right wing	Bukayo Saka
Left wing	Anthony Gordon
Striker	Harry Kane

The major debate for Warnock is in the wide areas. He believes Bukayo Saka will start on the right, while Anthony Gordon may get the nod over Marcus Rashford on the left.

“The tough one for me is probably your wingers,” Warnock said. “I think probably Saka will start in that game. I think Anthony Gordon will probably get the nod over Rashford, I would have thought anyway.”

In midfield, Warnock expects Tuchel to stick with Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson, but he also admitted he would love to see Kobbie Mainoo given an opportunity.

“I’d love to see Mainoo go in there,” he said. “I think he’d be the perfect type of player to split the lines, to drive with the ball. But listen, I think he’ll go with Declan Rice ultimately. I think he’ll go with what he knows and that relationship between him and Elliot Anderson.”

Warnock’s frustration with Rice is not about ability. Quite the opposite. He believes Rice has the tools to be more progressive, but has looked slightly restricted at times.

“I think Declan Rice has played very safe in the tournament,” he said. “Whether that’s being asked from him by the manager or not, I don’t know.

“In games like this, when you’re playing Argentina, I think you need that ability to drive with the ball. Declan’s fully capable of doing it, so that’s where I think it must be coming from the manager. I’ve also seen it at Arsenal where I think at times he can be more progressive with his passing or with his runs. I’d almost just take the handbrake off Declan Rice and I’d be happy.”

That might be the key line for England. Against Argentina, safe football may not be enough. Sensible football, yes. Disciplined football, absolutely. But if England spend 90 minutes giving Lionel Messi too much respect, it could be a very long night.

Warnock, though, is confident. His prediction is a 3-1 England win, with Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Ezri Konsa scoring.

“I’ll go 3-1 England,” he said. “I’ll go Bellingham, Saka and let’s go for an Ezri Konsa header from a corner.”

So there you have it. Reece James back in. Gordon over Rashford. Saka on the right. Kane up front. Rice and Anderson in midfield, unless Warnock gets his wish and Mainoo is unleashed to drive through the lines. And England to beat Argentina 3-1.

Which feels bold, exciting and exactly the sort of prediction that will make England fans spend the next few days becoming dangerously optimistic.

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