Kyle Walker has played the role of Thomas Tuchel as he picked his England starting XI for their World Cup opener against Croatia.The Three Lions will begin their campaign on Wednesday night, live on talkSPORT at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, kick-off 9pm.Tuchel faces several selection headaches ahead of England’s World Cup openerGettyFollowing warm-up friendly wins over New Zealand and Costa Rica, the time is fast approaching for Tuchel to decide on his starting XI.The England boss faces a number of selection headaches before his side line up against the 2018 finalists, with three decisions particularly pressing.His favoured defence remains unclear, while several players are in the mix to start on both wings.Tuchel must also choose who to start in the No.10 role behind captain Harry Kane, with both Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers staking their claim to make the position their own.Walker’s England XIWalker, who made 96 England caps including eight World Cup appearances, has now revealed who he would start for England in their first group stage fixture next week.He was also part of five successive major tournament squads between 2016 and 2024.Starting between the sticks, the 36-year-old revealed on Thursday’s edition of Drivetime: “Pickford’s in goal. I think what he’s done for England is completely outstanding. Right-back, Reece James. I’m going to have to go with Reece.“Two centre-backs, I’m going to sit on the fence a little bit here. I’m going to sit on the fence… So I’m going for John (Stones) and Marc (Guehi).“And (Nico) O’Reilly (at left-back). I do think Djed Spence is really good. I think he’s really good going forward and he can bring something different.“But I think O’Reilly from his season that he’s had, you have to put him in there and I think he’s earned that starting position.Walker retired from international duty in MarchtalkSPORT“I think the midfield speaks for itself for me with Declan (Rice), (Elliot) Anderson and I’m going to go Jude (Bellingham), just because I think Jude in big moments…“I think if you looked back a little bit onto the Euros, where we were digging in a little bit and he kept on coming up with important goals, that bicycle kick and everything like that.“I think if that doesn’t go in, obviously, we don’t make it through. So big players step up in big moments and I think he can deal with the pressure.”Turning his attention to the front three, Walker continued: “Then I’m going to go for my personal opinion and that would be (Marcus) Rashford.“I think Marcus is someone that I’ve had the pleasure of playing with for a number of years now and the pleasure of playing against as well and he can create something out of nothing.“I’ve seen him score goals at the Etihad that you don’t want him to score and I think he’s played in big moments like that as well.Rashford should get the nod to start on the left for England, according to WalkerGetty“I’m not saying Anthony Gordon hasn’t, but I think Rashford’s just got a little bit more experience than Anthony. I think Anthony last night was very good, very direct, carried the ball well and caused him a lot of problems.”As for England’s goal threat and right wing berth, Walker concluded: “The skipper (Harry Kane) picks himself, but listen, I think you look at (Ollie) Watkins and what he’s coming on and doing.“We need goals and I’ve said it last night and I’ll say it that England need goals from other areas and if Harry isn’t firing for one particular reason or another, to have Watkins coming off the bench or even Ivan Toney in certain moments, it’s a good stead to have.“And then I think (Bukayo) Saka. Listen, they’ve won the Premier League and they reached the Champions League final.Walker has hailed Saka’s mentality as the Arsenal star heads to his second World CupGetty“Saka has been incredible after everything that happened at Wembley with England. So to come back from that, I think he’s done tremendously well.”Saka missed the crucial penalty in England’s Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy five years ago.The Arsenal star was subsequently subjected to vile racist abuse on social media alongside Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho.Saka has since gone on to score 14 goals in 49 caps for the Three Lions as well as converting a penalty in the shootout win over Switzerland in 2024.This is the team Kyle Walker would pickHe is also fresh from helping the Gunners end their 22-year wait for a Premier League title this season.Bellingham treatmentAsked if Jude Bellingham is unfairly treated, Walker admitted: “I think with young players from England, when they go to a club like Real Madrid, they’re always going to be put on a pedestal above people.“I look back at my time that I had the pleasure of playing with him, with (Wayne) Rooney and the expectations on his shoulders was incredible, it was incredible.“Sometimes people forget that he’s so young, he’s still learning the game and he’s still got room for growth and he’s going to make mistakes and he’s not going to do things that are completely right.“But his talent for his age and what he carries on his shoulders is above none for me.”Still only 22, Bellingham has already won 48 senior international caps, with six goals in those appearances.Bellingham wins the battle with Rogers to start as England’s No.10 in Walker’s line-upGettyThis summer’s World Cup also represents the Real Madrid midfielder’s fourth major tournament with England.Bellingham scored against Iran at the 2022 finals before finding the net twice at Euro 2024 as the Three Lions reached the final.World Cup WhatsAppDon't miss an update from talkSPORT in our dedicated World Cup WhatsApp channel.Search for ‘talkSPORT World Cup’ in your ‘Updates’ tab on WhatsApp and we’ll drop the proper, unfiltered football chat straight to your lock screen—no fluff, just pure talkSPORT energy.It’s where you’ll find out all the new rules to watch out for, England and Scotland reaction and big match player ratings. Plus there will be loads of debates on the biggest talking points as Haaland, Mbappe, Kane and the biggest names in football descend on America, Canada and Mexico.