I knew it wouldn't be long that, in true British fashion, someone mentioned the weather.

There are few things we love moaning about more - whether it's too hot, too cold or too wet.

We got a sign of how the next few weeks might be impacted by any of those three issues last night...

Right, we've brought you the thoughts of chief football writer Phil McNulty and below is his England starting XI for the opening group game against Croatia on 17 June.

Do you agree? If not, who would you bring in? And who would you drop to the bench?

England

Image source, Getty Images

Harry Kane's status as captain, talisman and main marksman is illustrated very simply by his all-time record of 79 goals in 114 England games.

And yet, at 32, he continues to add strings to his bow in a fashion that now makes him the complete player.

In Orlando, there was further evidence that Thomas Tuchel has effectively given Kane a roving commission to link, create and score – all tasks he performs superbly.

Tuchel's willingness to allow Kane to roam freely, as he does for Bayern Munich, adds an intriguing layer to the German's strategy.

It is clear that Kane possesses the natural game intelligence - described as "uncoachable" by former England striker Chris Sutton – to not only create but also still arrive with perfect timing in attacking positions.

Kane's range of passing and vision enables him to find runners like Anthony Gordon or Bukayo Saka, as well as Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers when they make their trademark surges.

It may just give Tuchel and England an X-factor if they drive deep into the World Cup and have to unlock superior opposition.

England

England boss Thomas Tuchel spoke to ITV, after his side beat Costa Rica in a friendly: "We did very well, and we deserved to win. We should have had more goals, we created a lot. The attitude, the energy, the intensity was on a very high level.

"Everyone did well. It is not about one individual player today. A very good team performance and we want to have this to push to the next level, and we clearly got it.

"We worked hard, counter pressing was good, and togetherness. Everything on a high level.

"Tonight makes my mind very calm as we're absolutely on the right way. The guys who came on were super influential. The guys who came out were pushing from behind on the bench - exactly what we wanted."

England

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When Thomas Tuchel decided to leave Manchester United veteran Harry Maguire out of his World Cup squad, it placed his faith in John Stones even further under the microscope.

Manchester City's Stones was troubled by injury throughout last season and is now waiting to decide his next club after leaving Etihad Stadium, but his class and pedigree at the highest level has never been in question.

This is why Tuchel included him in this squad, and the head coach will have been delighted to see Stones get another 63 minutes under his belt against Costa Rica after playing 45 minutes against New Zealand.

If he is fully fit, as seems to be the case, then the temptation will be huge for Tuchel to start his most accomplished and experienced defender against Croatia.

Presumably, he would line up alongside Manchester City defender Marc Guehi - although Ezri Konsa's inclusion from the start on Wednesday points to an alternative option.

Guehi and Stones did, though, play 45 minutes together against New Zealand and know each other well both internationally and at club level.

Identifying the sturdiest pairing is another decision that could prove pivotal as England and Tuchel aim for a strong start to their campaign.

BBC 5 Live Breakfast

England fan Kerry on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast: "It was pretty good, it was much better than the other one, I'm glad they have climatised now.

"I think the way that they set up last night and the changes that [Thomas Tuchel] made, you can see where his head is at. I think what is promising is that there is a strong bench as well and as was seen last night, there's so many options.

"I think that gives us a bit of a highlight as to where we are going to go as well."

Roy Keane
Former Republic of Ireland captain on ITV

I think Thomas Tuchel will be pleased. There was more intensity in terms of the opposition. A good urgency from England that I enjoyed.

England

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Arsenal's Bukayo Saka will fill the right-sided slot if he is fit enough. A lingering Achilles tendon injury has led Tuchel to manage his minutes carefully, but he is first choice.

Saka's Arsenal team-mate Madueke produced a mixed bag of a performance on the right against Costa Rica.

The real intrigue centres on who plays on England's left. It looks to be between new Barcelona signing Anthony Gordon and Marcus Rashford – whose future at the Nou Camp is uncertain following his loan from Manchester United.

That is another sub-plot to the selection situation, and there is no obvious answer to who will get the nod.

Rashford was one of England's brightest sparks against New Zealand, while Gordon looked rusty as a substitute, his cause seemingly not helped by his inaction at Newcastle in the final weeks of last season, when it became clear he was leaving Tyneside and he was left on the sidelines.

Gordon, however, did his chances no harm with a fine performance against Costa Rica.

That's more like it Dave and Harry!

England

England boss Thomas Tuchel spoke to ITV after Wednesday's victory: "We saw very good substitutes, who, of course, were disappointed not to start, but to come in and to play with the same intensity and quality against a more tired opponent."

On whether he knows his starting XI v Croatia: "No. I have another six days I think."

On preparation for Croatia: "First of all, we have a match tomorrow. Another friendly match to get minutes into the players who didn't play today.

"Then the players get one and a half days off to switch off physically and mentally. Change location, go to Kansas and then prepare for Croatia.

"What we saw today was exactly what we wished for and exactly what we wanted. Very proud. Next stop, Kansas."

England

Image source, Getty Images

One of the major talking points in terms of team selection for Thomas Tuchel has centred around whether Jude Bellingham or Morgan Rogers should get the nod for the number 10 spot.

The German boss has seemed happy to foster healthy competition between the two boyhood friends, but now decision time is coming.

Aston Villa's Rogers has been the player in possession, Tuchel keeping faith with the 23-year-old as Bellingham endured a mixed season at Real Madrid, interrupted by shoulder and hamstring injuries.

Tuchel started with Rogers against New Zealand, although nothing could be read into that as Bellingham came on for the second half and took on the captaincy.

There are effectively 14 or 15 "starters" that Tuchel has in mind within England's squad, and both are in that group.

But unless Tuchel decides to play Rogers on the left against Croatia, only one of the duo will be in that particular line-up.

It will be arguably the biggest decision of Tuchel's reign, and there was no doubt Bellingham resembled a man on a mission against Costa Rica.

Read more from Phil McNulty here.

Hmmmm.

Not even a ball kicked yet and already playing down England's chances!

Come on, where is the optimism?

Ian Wright
Former Arsenal striker on ITV

Thomas Tuchel doesn't seem to be worried about anything too much, simply because he just feels like he saw everything he needed to see in respect of the unity, the way they played, the way the substitutes came on and contributed.

All I would say looking from the outside in, is see those chances taken.