Chelsea star Raheem Sterling, then of Manchester City, started all seven of England's games at Euro 2020 where the Three Lions suffered a heart-breaking defeat to Italy in the final on penalties. However, the 27-year-old was an unused substitute in England's final World Cup group game against Wales and given the form of other players in his position, he could remain on the bench for the last-16 clash with Senegal.
Sterling and Arsenal's Bukayo Saka were the duo deployed by Gareth Southgate in the opening two fixtures. Both impressed and were on the scoresheet against Iran which then in turn saw them also start England's second group game against the USA.
But, after England drew a blank against the USMNT, Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden replaced Saka and Sterling and both starred in the win against Wales. Southgate explained that the decision to start Rashford and Foden was because they could 'cause Wales problems' and to get 'freshness in the team'.
