Morgan Rogers has spoken about the disappointment of being left out of England's starting lineup for their World Cup opener against Croatia, but insists he understands why Jude Bellingham got the nod. The Aston Villa star made his World Cup debut as a substitute in the 4-0 win, with manager Thomas Tuchel admitting it was a tough call to bench him.
Rogers accepts role behind Bellingham
Tuchel revealed his admiration for Bellingham and sympathy for Rogers, saying: "The tough decision today was to tell Morgan Rogers that he wouldn't start because he deserved to, 100 per cent." Rogers learned of his benching just before the match and confessed his disappointment: "Of course, I'm disappointed, I want to play every game. Everyone wants to play."
However, the 23-year-old acknowledged Bellingham's quality: "Jude is one of the best players in the world. If we're going to do well in this tournament, he's going to have to be at the forefront of it." Their close friendship, with Bellingham having attended Rogers's fifth birthday party, softens the blow.
Pride in World Cup debut
Rogers accepted his role and expressed pride in his debut: "I have to understand my role. If I'm on the bench and the manager asks me to come on and impact the game, that's what I'm going to do. I'm honoured to be here. I've made my debut in a World Cup, it's something I've always dreamed of."
He added: "I wish I could take it in. I probably took it in more when I was on the bench than when you're playing."
Watching other teams
Rogers also commented on the tournament so far, noting competitive games and picking out Argentina and Germany as impressive sides. "It's been a really close World Cup, tightly-contested games. All the big teams are going to impress early on; it's about who can be consistent," he said.
