Thomas Tuchel spent around four hours on Thursday calling disappointed England players to explain to them that the rationale for his 26-man squad was one that could navigate every element of a possible seven-week campaign.
This is the biggest World Cup ever, so it contains more variables than any other – above all, the conditions. Tuchel, rather than just assembling the “26 most talented names”, as he put it, has ultimately tried to cater for every obstacle they may face.
