Patrick Vieira has warned England fans not to get too carried away after their 4-2 win over Croatia, insisting the Three Lions will not win the World Cup. The former Arsenal and France star was impressed by the performance but believes there are stronger teams in the tournament, particularly his own country.
England's impressive start
England roared to a 4-2 victory in their opening match in Dallas, with Harry Kane scoring twice in the first half and Jude Bellingham and substitute Marcus Rashford adding goals after the break. While the defensive display raised some questions, the attacking flair delighted fans. Kane and Bellingham were standout performers, and the win against the toughest group-stage opponent sets England up well for the knockout rounds.
Vieira's assessment
World Cup winner Vieira acknowledged the quality of England's display but urged caution. Speaking on The Rest is Football, he said: 'It was a really good performance. For the first game of a big tournament, there were a lot of question marks and they answered them well. But you don't want to build too much excitement. It was a huge performance, one of the best so far, on the same level as France and Argentina. But there's still a long way to go.'
When asked how England would fare against France, Vieira was dismissive: 'That's a real question? The team to beat is France, no doubt. They are the best team in the competition and will go all the way to win the World Cup. England can hurt France, but not win it.'
Tuchel's half-time message
Manager Thomas Tuchel was not entirely satisfied with the first half, which ended 2-2, but praised the increased intensity and aggression after the break. Vieira noted that England's high tempo overwhelmed the ageing Croatia side, causing them to tire in the second half. 'If they improve defensively, they will be a difficult team to play against,' he added.
Vieira also highlighted Jude Bellingham's importance: 'To win the World Cup, your best player must perform at his best. England won't win if Bellingham isn't at the top of his game.'
Kane on the victory
Harry Kane revealed Tuchel's half-time message: 'The boss said to up the tempo, go man for man and take the game to them. That's exactly what happened. We saw our best level with and without the ball, and we could have scored three or four in that 20-minute spell in the second half.'
England face Ghana next on Tuesday night in Foxborough, Massachusetts, at 9pm UK time.
