Thomas Tuchel says England must play football that supporters in pubs can fall in love with, as he vowed to keep on attacking at the World Cup.
The Three Lions boss kept his players back in the dressing-room at half-time during Wednesday’s group opener against Croatia in Dallas, with the score at 2-2 after a first half his assistant Anthony Barry had labelled ‘complicated and confused’.
But after Tuchel delivered a rousing speech during the interval, his team blew away the Croats to record a 4-2 victory.
‘I had thought in the second half, “People in the pubs will like this!”,’ said Tuchel. ‘I was sweating, but that was a good watch. We created and created and went for it with one ball and the second ball. That is what needs to be done. Nobody can guarantee the outcome, but we can guarantee the effort.
‘That is why you are in a pub and watching together on a big screen, to get emotional, and hopefully we can transmit that. It is good and it is rewarding. Hopefully everybody enjoyed it and it brings a connection.’
Tuchel admits he now has a big decision to make over the inclusion of wingers Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka, after they came from the bench to combine for Rashford’s goal.
Thomas Tuchel promised his England side will continue to play football to excite fans following their 4-2 win over Croatia in their opening match of the World Cup
Tuchel admitted he faces a big decisions over Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka after the pair made an impressive impact from the bench
The German was asked if they were pushing for a start, and said: ‘Yes, always. The level they (the four wingers) were competing against each other was at the highest level.
‘We had some tough decisions to make but they know we will need them and the time will come when they start. The time will come when they can finish and be decisive from the bench. It is now four more weeks, so you can swallow it and digest it and buy into it. We selected the group because we were sure that they could do that, and they all can.’
However, Saka is unlikely to start Tuesday’s game against Ghana in Boston. The Arsenal winger is still feeling the effects of an Achilles injury and club-mate Noni Madueke is set to continue.
‘Bukayo is ready and will get more and more ready,’ said Tuchel. ‘I think once we go to the last game of this group, he will be ready. We are so strong from the bench. We needed this quality to bring it over the line. I know they are all starters.’
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