England manager Thomas Tuchel is preparing significant changes to his starting lineup ahead of Saturday's World Cup Group L finale against Panama in New Jersey.
The adjustments come after a disappointing 0-0 draw with Ghana in Boston on Tuesday, where England struggled to break down a compact defense.
Arsenal midfielder Eberechi Eze, who made his tournament debut as a substitute against Ghana, is pushing for an increased role.
Eze suggested that deploying two attacking midfielders could be an effective way to unlock stubborn defenses.
"Yeah, I think that's an option.
It's something that the manager has spoken about before, so it's definitely something that we've got," Eze said.
The 27-year-old emphasized his flexibility regarding positioning and his readiness to contribute whether starting or coming off the bench.
"I don't mind which position and role to play for me, as long as I am doing that, whether starting or coming off the bench it is your responsibility and enjoy as much as I can," he added.
Eze also dismissed concerns about physical fatigue from the club season, citing high motivation levels.
"For me personally I don't need much more motivation than the tournament; I am motivated and love playing football so I am ready," he said.
Regarding teammate Declan Rice, Eze confirmed the midfielder is available despite picking up a dead leg against Ghana, though Rice carries a yellow card and may be rested.
"He's Dec. He plays football, and he wants to play football.
He wants to play every game, and he'll do whatever he can to help the team," Eze said.
Tuchel Defends Squad Selections
Tuchel previously made high-profile exclusions from the 26-man squad, leaving out Cole Palmer, Harry Maguire, and Phil Foden.
Explaining Palmer's omission, Tuchel cited a lack of consistent form at club and international level.
"He was not as decisive or as influential as he was in the last seasons, throughout the whole season.
Second of all, he was not very influential with us," Tuchel said.
The manager also noted that fitness issues and training camp performance played a role in the decision.
Tuchel acknowledged the difficulty of leaving out such a talented player but emphasized that tactical consistency outweighed individual flashes.
"It was one of the most difficult phone calls and obviously one of the most prominent names that we leave out, but I refuse to bring players for the name," he said.
Regarding Maguire, who expressed frustration on social media after a strong season at Manchester United, Tuchel said he was surprised by the public reaction.
"I was a bit surprised, but I respect his personality a lot. I respect his quality a lot.
He had an outstanding season," Tuchel said.
The manager explained that the decision was based on sticking with the central defenders who secured qualification.
Tuchel also addressed Foden's omission, calling it a painful decision due to the forward's excellent conduct in camp.
"And it hurt me a lot, actually, to call him and to tell him this decision.
I could see in his reaction how much it affects him," Tuchel said.
For the Panama match, forward Marcus Rashford is pushing to start after recovering from hamstring tightness, while Bukayo Saka is also under consideration to replace Anthony Gordon on the left wing.
