Thomas Tuchel, wearing a hoodie to shield himself from the Missouri sun, barked instructions as England trained in Kansas City on Saturday. The head coach demanded perfection, focusing on accelerating play and moving through the lines. Players like Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon, Marcus Rashford, Djed Spence, and Ollie Watkins were put through a drill with mannequins arranged in four zones, allowed only two touches.
No Hiding Place Under Tuchel
Tuchel, a known perfectionist who has measured grass height at training, closely monitored the session. He loudly instructed players on which foot to use to control passes, emphasizing the importance of knowing teammates' favored feet. "If he sees something that he doesn’t like he calls it out," Dan Burn said. The drill aimed to entice the press and use give-and-go moves before shifting the ball wide. Tuchel zoned in on Spence, telling him to "wake up" and "open up."
Learning from Past Struggles
The intensity recalled England's first-half struggles against Croatia, where they struggled to beat the press and twice lost the lead before a stunning second-half comeback. Tuchel's methods aim to help England play like a Premier League side: with speed, intensity, and physicality. Historically, England have struggled against high-pressing teams, but Tuchel's focus on technique—receiving the ball on the correct foot—makes it easier to open up the body and pass beyond opponents.
Team Bonding and Honesty
Despite the demands, there is room for levity. Players enjoy basketball, backgammon, and a card game called Wolf. Burn, who attended an Ella Langley gig with Harry Kane and Jason Steele, said, "If you’re going to do it, do it properly." The honesty from Tuchel and assistant Anthony Barry is refreshing. Barry, who delivered a searing half-time interview critiquing England's first 45 minutes against Croatia, is known for no-nonsense feedback. "There’s no grey areas with Baz and the manager," Burn said. "They just say it how it is."
