Four Crucial Lessons England Must Learn From Their Last World Cup Warm-Up

England cruised to a comfortable 3–0 victory over Costa Rica on Wednesday, despite a one-hour delay to kick-off in Orlando.

A torrential rainstorm prevented Thomas Tuchel's formidable-looking side from taking to the pitch at the Inter&Co Stadium on schedule, yet it appeared to have little impact on their performance, as the Three Lions wrapped up their pre-tournament preparations with relative ease.

Declan Rice put England ahead early on, while Anthony Gordon converted from the penalty spot midway through the second half. Ollie Watkins rounded off the scoring late in the game by pouncing quickly on a rebound in the box.

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This was far from a demanding test by any measure, with England dominating possession in Orlando at a staggering 79% and registering 29 shots, while conceding just one attempt in return (off target). Nevertheless, the straightforward nature of the victory will provide Tuchel—and hopeful England supporters—with confidence ahead of their World Cup opener against Croatia on Wednesday, June 17.

For those tracking the lineup, it was difficult not to interpret the starting eleven as Tuchel's preferred side—with perhaps one or two exceptions. Crucially, there were no injuries or fitness concerns on the day that would add to any anxiety heading into next week.

Here are four key takeaways from England's final warmup fixture ahead of the World Cup.

Gordon's Alive

GORDON CONVERTS FROM THE SPOT 🚀 pic.twitter.com/y3hn4PHpub

One of the major debates surrounding England's best XI in recent months has centered on the left wing, with Gordon and Marcus Rashford vying for the wide position.

Gordon, who appears to have supplanted his international colleague at Barcelona following his recent move, now seems to hold the advantage with England as well.

The 25-year-old was an energetic and industrious presence along the flank in Orlando, providing the kind of attacking impetus England have so often lacked in major tournaments. Admittedly, he will encounter stiffer opposition than Costa Rica's Shawn Johnson, but his overall showing—which included a quality assist for Rice and a well-struck penalty—was promising.

The former Newcastle man links up effectively with those around him and contributes more in the press than Rashford.

The heat and fixture congestion at this tournament will mean multiple options are needed, but Gordon now appears to be the frontrunner to start against Croatia.

Right-Side Issues

While Gordon strengthened his case on the left, England look considerably less settled on the right flank.

Tuchel's decision to leave Jarrod Bowen out of his final 26-man squad means Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke are his only natural options for that role. The situation is further complicated by the fact that Saka, who featured for just 25 minutes against Costa Rica, is still managing an Achilles injury.

Speaking ahead of the match, Tuchel told the media: "We still have to take a little bit of care for Bukayo [Saka] who had an injury in March and carried it through the club campaign. He made himself available at the end of the season and did so brilliantly, but he was managed in between matches. That continues a bit at the moment - we are building him up."

In Saka's absence, Madueke squandered a golden opportunity in the first half, rounding goalkeeper Patrick Sequeira only to strike the post with the net wide open.

Saka's Arsenal deputy is a willing runner in an England shirt and clearly has Tuchel's trust, but Wednesday's display once again highlighted that he is a considerably more limited alternative.

Bellingham Stakes His Claim

Perhaps the most significant question surrounding England's team selection ahead of the tournament concerns the No.10 role, with Jude Bellingham seemingly in competition with Morgan Rogers for the starting berth.

Tuchel has avoided committing to either player, with both expected to play a significant part this summer. However, it was Bellingham who got the nod—and impressed—against Costa Rica.

The Real Madrid midfielder has endured a difficult season at club and international level but looked closer to his best in Orlando, winning tackles, dictating the tempo and combining effectively with Harry Kane.

Bellingham also created the Madueke chance that ought to have led to a goal and delivered the pass for substitute Eberechi Eze, whose shot struck the arm of Joseth Peraza to earn a penalty.

Rogers, meanwhile, was given only a 25-minute run-out and spurned one notable opportunity.

Prepare for the Unexpected

The gates are open, but the seating bowl remains closed due to inclement weather ahead of today's @England vs. @laselecrc_ match. Fans currently inside the stadium are asked to seek shelter in the concourse.

Updates will be provided as they become available. pic.twitter.com/da2BhdVx87

While the opposition posed little threat, the weather certainly did.

Both sides were forced to wait an hour for kick-off due to a sudden storm. A pitch inspection was conducted and the match was rescheduled "subject to there being no further lightning strikes in the area," according to England's X account.

Inter&Co Stadium eventually confirmed it was safe for supporters to return to their seats, having previously instructed them to "seek shelter" from the rain and lightning. Ultimately, the match got underway at 5 p.m. local time in temperatures of approximately 87°F (31°C), with clear skies for the majority of the game.

Managing the heat and humidity has been highlighted as a potentially decisive factor for teams this summer. England demonstrated they can still operate at a reasonable tempo in these conditions, and adapting to weather-related delays may also prove useful further down the line.