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  • John Stones and Ezri Konsa favoured to start over Marc Guehi for England’s WC opener vs Croatia
  • Guehi faces a fight to start in north America despite impressive start to Man City career
  • Former Crystal Palace captain joined Man City in January; won FA Cup & Carabao Cup double

Marc Guehi faces a fight to start England’s FIFA World Cup opener against Croatia, with John Stones and Ezri Konsa favoured to be selected ahead of the Manchester City defender.

Guehi enjoyed an excellent first few months at the Etihad Stadium after joining from Crystal Palace for £20 million in January, establishing himself as a defensive pillar under Pep Guardiola in the Catalan’s final season at the club.

The 25-year-old won the Carabao Cup and FA Cup double with City in his first six months in sky blue and was central to a defensive unit that carried the side through an injury-hit run-in.

The competition for places in Thomas Tuchel‘s England backline is fierce, however, with former City defender John Stones – now a free agent following his departure from the Etihad Stadium – and Aston Villa‘s Ezri Konsa both pushing for starting roles at the tournament in north America.

Report: Stones and Konsa preferred for Croatia opener

As per BBC Sport, Stones and Konsa are favoured to start over Guehi in defence for England’s FIFA World Cup opener against Croatia on May 17.

The update represents a setback for Guehi, who will be eager to impress incoming Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca with a strong tournament after a promising start to life in sky blue.

Stones’ inclusion is notable given the defender is currently without a club, having ended his decade long association with City this summer, though his experience and quality at international level continue to make him a trusted option for Tuchel.

Konsa’s versatility across the backline has also made him a valuable asset for England, with the Aston Villa defender entering the FIFA World Cup after leading his club to UEFA Europa League glory – whilst being able to operate both centrally and at right-back depending on the system Tuchel deploys against Croatia.

What does this mean for Guehi at the World Cup?

Guehi will hope to force his way into Tuchel’s plans as the tournament progresses, with the group stage offering opportunities for rotation and the chance to stake a claim for a regular starting berth.

The Ivory Coast-born defender captained England against Japan in March and has been tipped as a potential future leader for both club and country, underlining the regard in which he is held despite the competition for places.

A strong World Cup would do Guehi’s standing under Maresca no harm at all, with the Italian set to assess his squad in full ahead of the 2026-27 campaign and the defender keen to cement his place at the heart of the City defence.

For now, the focus is on breaking into a settled England backline, with Guehi’s opportunity likely to come at some stage of a tournament that represents the biggest of his career to date.

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Source: Cityxtra.co.uk