BREAKING Thomas Tuchel half-time team-talk fuels large England win vs Croatia in World Cup
Thomas Tuchel’s half-time team-talk fuelled the Three Lions to opening game glory in Arlington, Texas as England and Croatia played out an instant classic
Thomas Tuchel’s side beat Croatia on Wednesday(Image: Getty Images)
Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions have roared into action as they started their quest to end 60 years of hurt.
It was an instant classic in Arlington as Tuchel’s side went punch for punch with a side that has tormented them for the past couple of decades. Harry Kane’s spot kick, at the second time of asking, was cancelled out by a rocket from Martin Baturina.
Kane powered home his second from a corner, but again, Croatia found themselves level after a lovely, sweeping move. It was an uncharacteristically poor defensive performance from one of Tuchel’s side – and he let the Three Lions know it at half-time.
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Speaking to ITV at half-time, England assistant manager Anthony Barry blasted the performance as “complicated and confusing” with a “nervous energy”.
He claimed they “played long when we should have played short, we played short when we should have played long” and had shown “fearful patterns”.
When England came out for the second half – it was like a team reborn. It was the high-pressing, fast-flowing, attacking performance that England fans have been dreaming about for so long.
“I know Tuchel’s half time team talk was like that scene in Downfall, England flying out since,” one fan joked.
“What did Tuchel say to these lads at half time,” a second posted. As a third said: “What on earth did Thomas Tuchel say at half time? I need this man to give me a pep talk before work…”
And another added: “I don’t know what Tuchel said to them at half time, but I want several pints of it!”
Jude Bellingham came out of the blocks flying, proving why he is a Galactico as he raced down the field and rolled the ball into the far corner of Dominik Livakovic’s goal.
It was one way traffic and England should have had four, five and six as Kane, Bellingham and Anthony Gordon all came close. If Tuchel is to have a problem with the second half it should be England didn’t extend their advantage in that period.
And by the time the hydration break came, the Three Lions had started to work their way back down the gears.
Croatia sniffed an unlikely equaliser – but any dreams of a rescued point went out the window when Djed Spence went close before Marcus Rashford netted the fourth a couple of minutes later.
It was liquid football, finished off by an excellent Rashford, who cut inside and whipped the ball into the far corner of the Croatian goal.
All eyes will now fall on BMO Field in Toronto, where Ghana and Panama will play out the other clash in Group L. It’s Ghana next for the Three Lions before a final group stage clash with Panama.
