In the final hours before England’s opening World Cup match, Thomas Tuchel hasn’t felt the need for any extra rousing speech about what the competition is. The manager senses the right mood among the squad as it is.
“They know,” Tuchel says. “We all know, and I think you have to grow into a tournament. At the moment, I don’t feel that any emotional fuel is needed to make everyone clear what is happening. But at the moment I see it even as an advantage that we’re focused on what we can actually influence. We don’t put it in the bigger picture – just put it where it is. We know,” he repeated.
Some of the players certainly know the challenge of Croatia. They’re all well aware of Luka Modric’s quality, of course, especially since he’s been central to three of four meetings between the sides since 2018.
The first of those remains the most influential, framing many of the team issues that still persist to this campaign. It was a World Cup semi-final defeat which was the first of a series of nearlies and maybes for England, with Modric’s class in midfield exposing a crucial tactical and technical deficiency.
As if only to emphasise a wider point about this era, England of course beat Croatia in the matches that mattered less – including, admittedly, the Euro 2020 opener. Tuchel has nevertheless noticed something different about this iteration of the regular World Cup overperformers.
“From a midfield three, which was the core of Croatia, it has only [Mateo] Kovacic and Modric still there. They’re playing in a midfield two now, and the centre of the game – the gravity – has dropped into the back three. They play with two fluid number-10s and wing-backs but the core is still Modric and Kovacic.
“Then they have [Ivan] Perisic, who is always a threat with the crosses.”
Given the way that Tuchel marvelled at the 37-year-old’s quality, you can guarantee that England’s defenders have received a lot of instruction about how to deal with Perisic’s deliveries.
“That is one of the most dangerous crossers in world football, maybe – left foot, right foot, he does not even need space to put a cross in. It is remarkable. And they are strong in set pieces.”
If the familiarity with such qualities and names – Perisic scored the equaliser in that 2018 semi-final – points to a potential staleness in the Croatia team, a new generation is led by generational defender Luka Vuskovic and Martin Baturina, one of those 10s.
Either way, it’s still a big test to begin a World Cup, especially when an expanded tournament could have allowed a more forgiving fixture. “It is a very difficult start,” Tuchel said. “Because it is, first of all, an experienced team, an experienced coach, in tournament knockout football. It’s an experienced group. It’s just a top football nation and a very strong opponent, there is no doubt.”
It might also be what England need. Spain’s 0-0 draw against Cape Verde showed the potential of being caught cold, or maybe even being complacent, immediately putting such a side under pressure.
“They thought maybe it was an easy start,” Tuchel acknowledged. England won’t be thinking like that, especially if they want to finish first and ensure what looks a more forgiving side of the draw.
It’s one of many reasons Tuchel wants to start with a specific tone to the play. “I think we should play brave and play to the strengths of the players,” Tuchel said. “I think it makes things excited and creates a certain energy, and we need a connection with our fans, who are here, with the fans at home, to create something special.”
Harry Kane, now in his sixth tournament, intends to set the same tone. “I think the messaging will be to go with freedom,” he said. “I think we have an extremely strong team, we have a physical team. I think that’s going to be a big aspect of our game so go out there to use that.
“We’re here to go far in the tournament, that’s our aim, that’s our goal. I think the only regrets you can have coming away from tournaments is that you didn’t go for it. You can make mistakes, you can miss penalties like I’ve missed, but I don’t think those are the moments that stop you from sleeping at night. I think it’s the ones where you feel like you could have given more, you feel like you could have been a bit more free, you could have just went for it.”
Duly, Kane has sensed a shift in Tuchel. “Already, some of the meetings that we had have been extremely passionate. I felt that a little bit also at Bayern Munich as we got later on in the Champions League, the feeling you got from him was even more intense and even more passionate, and he’s someone who wears the heart on the sleeve. So, 100 per cent there will start to be a little bit of a shift. I feel like there has already a little bit. I think he’ll find the right tone as we go along.”
It’s why Tuchel doesn’t yet feel the need to remind everyone of what this is. “The level is already very high, meaning socially, and on the pitch, and off the pitch. Both levels are very high. So if I had a wish now, I would like to just keep it, not overdo it.
“The focus now is on the group stage. I don’t want to get carried away and make it bigger than it is, because tension will grow naturally once we arrive on the matchday and the stadium. And of course it’s a big match against a strong opponent. So I think all of this will come, and needs no extra fuelling at the moment.” And, by Wednesday evening in Dallas, everyone will finally know where exactly this England team are.
