England are expected to control possession and territory, but dominance alone will not define the night. The key questions concern structure, tempo and how quickly Tuchel’s principles are becoming visible in the team.
England have carried heavy expectations since their last major tournament triumph in 1966. That history gives even a friendly added significance, particularly with the squad still being shaped for a World Cup campaign.
Costa Rica are ranked 51st in the Fifa world rankings and will not feature at the next World Cup. Their immediate challenge is therefore different: restore momentum and compete against a side with greater tournament ambition.
They have gone three matches without a win, drawing with Honduras and Jordan before losing 3-1 to Colombia. That sequence points to an England side likely to enjoy long spells of control, although Costa Rica’s defensive organisation could still make the game a useful examination of England’s patience.
The teams have met only twice. Their first encounter, at the 2014 World Cup, ended without an England victory, while England won the return meeting 2-0 in a 2018 friendly.
That limited record offers no reliable pattern, but it does underline the danger of treating reputation as preparation. England’s status as favourites will matter only if Tuchel’s team turns territorial control into a disciplined, coherent performance.
The next storyline is how much closer England look to Tuchel’s preferred side after this test. The result will count, but the greater measure will be whether the team leaves with clearer answers before the 2026 World Cup.