Thomas Tuchel has revealed his rousing half-time message to England’s players that inspired their World Cup win over Croatia.
The Three Lions turned on the style in the second period of their Group L opener in Dallas on Wednesday, playing some superb attacking football as goals from Jude Bellingham and substitute Marcus Rashford sealed a statement 4-2 victory.
They would have scored plenty more goals against their old rivals were it not for the heroics of Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, who made numerous strong saves as dominant England created an onslaught of chances after the interval.
It was in contrast to a far more chaotic opening half, which saw an early retaken penalty by Harry Kane answered by Martin Baturina’s strike that went in off the hand of Jordan Pickford, before Kane’s header from a corner before half-time was then quickly cancelled out by Petar Musa.
England emerged for the second half a few minutes after Croatia, with many wondering if Tuchel had been reading his players the riot act following their defensive lapses - particularly after a half-time interview by frustrated assistant coach Anthony Barry given to ITV in which he lamented a “complicated and confusing” first 45 minutes in which the team displayed “a lot of nervous energy” and were “falling back into fearful patterns”.
Kane, Bellingham and Declan Rice were all full of praise after the game for what England’s captain called a “speech” that the manager delivered at half-time, with Kane saying: “He told us to take the shackles off, calm down and let’s go. He said what’s the worst that can happen? Show the world who we can be.”
Asked himself what he had said during that break that made such an impact, Tuchel told ITV: “I said even if we lose, it will not change my perception of the last 17 days. But let’s do it our way.
“We’re too focused on the result, too focused on protecting what we anyway don’t have at the moment. The second goal was just an example. I think we were a back seven and we didn’t defend the goal. So why be a back seven anyway?
“If something happens, the result doesn’t go our way, we want to play this match the way we want to and the way we were together for 17 days. I just tried to encourage them to go for it.”
Bellingham said of Tuchel’s decisive half-time rallying cry: “It wasn't one of those where there was a big drama - he wasn't standing up shouting. It was just what the team needed.
“We have a mature group, we have great leaders in there. Everyone knew the level we had to get to and why we weren't hitting it. We were very clear in the second half and the early goal gave us the platform.”
Rice said: “He was top at half-time. The words he used, what he said, settled everyone. I can’t say too much, but it was just one of those moments where you’re like, ‘wow, what a top manager’.
“I think everyone went out second half and everyone was relaxed. We just went for it and could have scored a lot more.”
