Thomas Tuchel’s first competitive act as England manager at a major tournament wasn’t a tactical masterstroke or a fiery team talk. It was giving his players permission to see their families.
The German coach arranged for England’s World Cup squad to spend time with family members during the tournament in the US, a move that speaks volumes about his man-management philosophy. And if the 4-2 demolition of Croatia in their opening match on June 17 is anything to go by, the approach is working.
A tale of two halves in Dallas
Tuchel delivered a half-time speech that encouraged his players to adopt a riskier, more attacking style of play. The adjustment worked. England came out for the second half with a fundamentally different energy, turning what had been a cagey affair into a dominant display.
Harry Kane was the headline act, scoring twice in a performance that carried historical weight. His brace brought him level with Gary Lineker’s England World Cup goal record.
