England wins 3-0 World Cup dress rehearsal against Costa Rica

After the break, Anthony Gordon extended the lead to 2-0 from the penalty spot in the 68th minute. Ollie Watkins put the finishing touch in the 87th minute, making the final score 3-0. The victory was clear over the course of the entire match, even though the Central Americans, who did not qualify for the World Cup, played largely defensively.

Three goals in one half

What was remarkable was the English coach's rotation: Tuchel substituted his entire starting eleven during the course of the match. After 63 minutes, the day was over for Bayern star Harry Kane, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, and Rice, among others. In the 71st minute, Jude Bellingham, Gordon, and Elliot Anderson also left the field. This way, all players used got sufficient playing time.

Tuchel substitutes entire starting eleven

Costa Rica spent the majority of the match in its own half and managed only a few noteworthy attacking moves. The class difference between the World Cup participant and the Central American team, which had missed out on qualification, was clearly visible for long stretches. England controlled possession and the tempo of the game.

With the clear victory behind them, England can now head into the tournament with confidence. England faces Croatia in its World Cup opener next Wednesday. The Three Lions' other Group L opponents in the group stage are Ghana and Panama. The opening match against Croatia will be Tuchel's team's first real test at the tournament.

Portugal wins friendly against Nigeria

In another friendly on Thursday evening, Portugal secured a 2-1 home win against Nigeria in Leiria. Pedro Neto gave the Portuguese the lead in the 23rd minute before Akor Adams equalized for Nigeria. Francisco Conceicao netted the winner in the 75th minute. Cristiano Ronaldo, who is taking part in his sixth World Cup finals – a record – missed several chances and failed to score. Going into the match, he had yet to score his 144th international goal. He was also the only outfield player from the starting eleven who remained on the pitch after halftime.

The report on England's dress rehearsal was provided by the Austria Presse Agentur (APA).