Gordon nets as England overcome Costa Rica in final World Cup preparation game

Having used a different starting eleven in each half of the 1-0 victory over New Zealand on Saturday, Thomas Tuchel selected a team that is expected to be very similar to the one that will begin England's Group L campaign versus Croatia next Wednesday.

The standout decisions included John Stones being chosen ahead of Marc Guehi, Jude Bellingham starting in place of Morgan Rogers, and Anthony Gordon getting the nod over Marcus Rashford, whilst Bukayo Saka was only a substitute as he continues to regain full match sharpness.

The start of the match in Orlando was postponed for an hour due to storms, yet England quickly established their dominance after play began and went ahead in the ninth minute.

Gordon sprinted into space and then pulled the ball back for Declan Rice, who smashed home his seventh goal for England, aided by a small deflection.

England were eager for a second goal, and Patrick Sequeira had to make a diving save to push Harry Kane's header around the post just before the half hour mark.

Noni Madueke was then presented with a clear chance to score after connecting with Bellingham's through pass and rounding Sequeira, but he hit the post with the goal unguarded.

Costa Rica committed 11 fouls during the first half, and the referee Ekaterina Koroleva awarded a penalty when Gordon fell after a challenge from Shawn Johnson in added time, but she reversed her decision after reviewing the incident on the VAR monitor.

England were still dominant after the break, and Madueke bent a shot just wide of the far post shortly after the second half began.

Tuchel made six substitutions just after the hour mark, including Dean Henderson coming on for Jordan Pickford in goal, Bukayo Saka replacing Noni Madueke, and Morgan Rogers taking over from Harry Kane.

England were handed a great opportunity to extend their advantage when Eberechi Eze, also a substitute, had his shot hit an opponent's elbow inside the area, and Gordon then fired his third goal for his country into the top corner from the penalty spot.

This was the first occasion in four games that Tuchel's side had found the net more than once, and the sixth consecutive friendly match in which Costa Rica had let in at least two goals.

Rogers side footed the ball wide after being played through one-on-one, and then his Aston Villa colleague Ollie Watkins nodded in his seventh goal for England from near the goal line with three minutes remaining.

That goal rounded off a pleasing afternoon for England, who demonstrated why they are considered one of the leading contenders to win the World Cup, whilst Costa Rica will observe the competition from home after their winless run was stretched to six matches (two draws, four defeats).

Declan Rice was the Flashscore Man of the Match (England)