How England are using rugby-style ‘finishers’ to give them an edge at the World Cup
AnalysisHow England are using rugby-style ‘finishers’ to give them an edge at the World Cup
Marcus Rashford celebrates with fellow substitutes Morgan Rodgers and Bukayo Saka Michael Steele/Getty Images
By Jack Pitt-BrookeJune 21, 2026 UpdatedThomas Tuchel did not grow up with rugby. But, having spent so much time in France and England in his career, he has become a fan of the sport. He always wants to learn from other disciplines, and likes to exchange ideas with people from the 15-a-side game.
Perhaps it should be no surprise then that England appeared to adopt a rugby tactic in their 4-2 win against Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday. The concept of ‘finishers’, substitutes introduced with specific roles to win the game in the second half, was initially popularised by Eddie Jones, who coached the England rugby team from 2015 to 2022.
The genesis of the term came from Jones’ time coaching Japanese club Suntory Sungoliath in 2022. He had two top players for one position, Australian veteran George Gregan and new star signing Fourie du Preez, who had won the 2007 World Cup with South Africa. But only one of them could play at scrum-half. “It was a tricky situation because I wanted to keep players content, happy and playing hard for the team,” Jones told The Athletic in 2022. “With two iconic players in the same position, I tried to think of a solution.”
Eddie Jones at Suntory Sungoliath (Toru Hanai/Getty Images)Jones knew from baseball the huge importance of ‘closers’, pitchers who came on for the final innings of the game to see out the win – like Mariano Rivera, the legendary New York Yankees closer, who is now in the Baseball Hall of Fame. So Jones asked Gregan whether he could become the Rivera of their rugby team, playing out the last 20 minutes of a game after Du Preez had started. It worked perfectly: Suntory Sungoliath won consecutive Japanese titles.
The solution came from rugby, but the problem it solved is one common to many team sports. “I wanted to make the role of someone who is disappointed about not starting meaningful,” Jones explained. “This term of ‘finishers’ gave that role credence and importance, and it’s worked really well.”
And Jones always thought the concept would transfer across easily to football because it is such an “effort-based game” with an emphasis on running off the ball. “So if these players can come on with unbelievable energy and dynamism, that becomes contagious,” he said. “Blokes who felt they were a little tired get energised by these new guys who come on.”
Which leads us to England’s 2026 World Cup campaign. The concept of ‘finishers’ has been floating around football for some time. It is not even new to the England team. Gareth Southgate was close with Jones and used the ‘finishers’ term himself. And yet Southgate was often blamed — sometimes fairly, sometimes not — for his conservative use of substitutes in big games.
The evidence of Wednesday’s 4-2 win over Croatia in Dallas is that Tuchel sees the role of substitutes as key. England used so much energy in the first 70 minutes of their game against Croatia, but for all their dominance they were still only 3-2 up.
Tuchel could have let the game drift, or tried to shut it down. But instead he made a triple change of attacking players — Morgan Rogers, Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka — designed to keep the pressure on and win the game for England. So it proved, with Saka breaking forward down the right with five minutes left and setting up Rashford, who put the ball in the bottom corner. England were 4-2 up, and the game was over.
Marcus Rashford scores after coming on as a ‘finisher’ (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)Tuchel had hinted at this approach before. When England beat Costa Rica 3-0 in a friendly in Orlando — Jordan Henderson called it the best pre-tournament friendly performance he had ever seen — Tuchel threw on substitutes who kept the pressure on, including Ollie Watkins, who scored.
“We saw very good substitutes who, of course, will be disappointed to not start and came in and just played with the same intensity and quality against a more tired opponent,” Tuchel told ITV.
What You Should Read Next
The finisher kings: Which Premier League clubs are most effective with substitutions?
Which Premier League sides are changing games with their changes — and who is lacking spark from the bench?
After the Croatia game, Tuchel referred back to the Costa Rica friendly, how the substitutes “pushed on the buttons, pushed on the gas and kept suffocating the opponent”. He seemed to relish the competition that England now have in wide areas. Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke started the game, and attacked Croatia with the energy of men who knew they might not get the full 90 minutes. Madueke worked his way in behind Ivan Perisic time after time, Gordon pressed like his life depended on it. And then Saka and Rashford came on and made the game safe.
Now Tuchel will have to decide again for the Ghana game on Tuesday who will be his starters and who will be his ‘finishers’. The roles could well change next time. “The level they were competing against each other was at the highest level,” he explained. “Especially in the last week, we had some 10 v 10 in training and some finishing patterns, some attacking patterns, some defensive patterns. Everyone is on, but on in such a respectful way that we had some tough decisions to make. But they know we will need them, and the time will come when they start, the time will come when they finish, and be decisive from the bench at any time.”
It is totally plausible that when Saka is ready, he starts, and then Madueke becomes the finisher. A switch between Gordon and Rashford is just as likely at some point. This will be a demanding World Cup, with so many games and so much travel that it is impossible to keep squeezing the same 11 players time after time. The most important thing, even more than the physical or technical capability of the players, is that they buy into what Tuchel is asking.
Jun 24, 2026
Connections: Sports Edition
Spot the pattern. Connect the terms
Find the hidden link between sports terms
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
