Thomas Tuchel says nothing has scared him at the World Cup and is adamant that England are capable of competing with any team.
Tuchel, whose side hope to clinch top spot in Group L when they face Panama in New Jersey on Saturday evening, is not panicking after England’s goalless draw with Ghana. The head coach remains confident in his players and, with the bulk of the group stage completed, has not seen anything to make him think any opponents are unstoppable.
“I’m not scared in general,” he said. “We feel confident enough to be ready and compete on any level. I haven’t seen that much football, to be honest, because the times were always quite early and we’re on the training pitch.
“Then it’s the afternoon, we’re in the office preparing the next day. I haven’t seen that much football – but I’m not scared. I see, of course, good teams. I see high-quality individual players who decide team matches. I see all kinds. I still see our group as one of the most difficult. This is where we go from. We focus on what we can influence.”
England risk finishing second if they fail to beat Panama, who are out after losing their first two games. A narrow victory would leave them in danger of missing out on top spot on goal difference if Ghana secure a heavy win over Croatia.
Tuchel admitted that England needed to be better against low blocks, but he is not worried about teams trying to wind up Jude Bellingham. Ghana appeared to try to get under the midfielder’s skin, particularly during a fraught ending to the first half, and it could be similarly physical against Panama.
“No fear,” Tuchel said. “I didn’t think about this yet. I think sometimes it fuels Jude. He accepts that these moments come and he’s happily engaging in it, because it brings out the edge in him that he needs sometimes.
“We spoke about it at half-time, to be emotional is part of the game, and we don’t want to play cold like a fridge. We want to play emotional but not get distracted and not be dragged into discussions. It will just help the opponent and the underdog.
“We did this well. You cannot play without emotion against such physical teams, because otherwise it feels a little bit like you’re in the role of a victim. We want to stand up for each other, protect us and still find a good balance.”
Tuchel laughed off suggestions that the stalemate with Ghana in Boston showed he was wrong not to include the creativity of Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold in his squad. He anticipated a tough game when Ghana appointed Carlos Queiroz as their manager in April. Tuchel is staying calm and will not discuss players who did not make the final 26.
“I cannot engage with this after a draw,” he said. “Spain had a draw. Brazil had their draw. Portugal had their draw. Honestly, we had a message from a very famous colleague, a very well-respected colleague, after Ghana changed their coach. He texted us: ‘Your most difficult game is now the second game.’ So I have a bit of respect for what we’re playing here, and then we need to trust also our players. It helps no one if we question now.”
Reece James has been ruled out for at least two games after complaining of hamstring tightness after the draw against Ghana. Ezri Konsa is likely to move to right-back. England also have fitness concerns over Declan Rice.
Rice’s place in midfield could go to Kobbie Mainoo, while Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford could start on the wings. With the group alive Tuchel may not be able to rest Bellingham and Harry Kane. If England do finish first, they will have four days to prepare for a last-32 game in Atlanta against a third-placed team.
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