At 21:00 UTC on June 27, England will face Panama in their final group-stage match of the FIFA World Cup. On the eve of the match, England head coach Thomas Tuchel attended a press conference. This article covers the second half of the press conference.
The group stage is coming to an end. I just wanted to ask for your thoughts on this new format, in which all third-placed teams also advance to the next round. Do you think it is better than the old format?
That is how it is. Honestly, I do not dwell on whether I prefer it or not; it is simply the current format. We knew about this format in advance, and we will make the best of it. I think every coach and every player would prefer that once a tournament starts, it could be played more quickly and in a more compact schedule.
But given the number of participating teams, this is the current reality. For nations new to the FIFA World Cup or those with a better chance of advancing, it is a huge opportunity and a bigger stage. We must respect that, and we must be proud of it. It is an extremely significant event for them.
And yes, we are privileged because our country regularly participates in tournaments, with major nations competing every four years. But for smaller nations and underdog teams, they can seize this opportunity, and that is the purpose of this format. So we have to adapt. We had a very good training camp beforehand, and it has gone very well so far. Yes, there is still one match to come, which will be very demanding physically and mentally, but that is how it is.
Hi Thomas, I’m really curious: what is it like to coach a national team that is not your own country? There is also Carlo Ancelotti in Brazil, and perhaps one day Pep Guardiola will coach a national team other than Spain. Now that you are with England, I want to ask you about the pros and cons of that.
The biggest drawback is that I don't have a British passport, but perhaps that was clear from the start. I love being the coach of England; I've never been shy about that. I have immense affection for this country, its people, and their approach to football and Sport. I fell in love with this country and the Premier League; working there was my dream.
Having the opportunity to coach this group of players is an incredible privilege, and I am very grateful for it. Yes, no one wants to win more than I do, and that has nothing to do with my passport. I feel a deep connection with the players and with this country, which is perhaps the most important thing. I think the people who ultimately entrusted me with this responsibility felt that connection.
Hello, Thomas. Good luck tomorrow. Declan Rice is obviously at risk of suspension due to accumulated yellow cards. Will that factor into your tactical considerations?
Yes and no. I think he is mature and experienced enough to handle it, but we are aware of the situation. He already has one yellow card, so if he starts tomorrow—and normally, I always want Declan on the field—he needs to be mindful of that. I think he's perfectly capable of managing it.
Thomas, at the beginning of this tournament, you indicated that Bukayo Saka could get a start. Have his substitute appearances given him the match fitness needed to start tomorrow? Is this also an opportunity for Marcus Rashford to start?
Yes, everyone can start. I mean, that reflects the caliber of players we have in this squad; everyone has the ability to start. In every position, they are regular starters and key players for their respective clubs. The challenge for us is that we cannot start everyone in every match. So they have to be prepared and willing to fulfill a role that may be unfamiliar to them, but everyone has performed at the highest level.
For Bukayo, I think this was exactly the right approach. We consulted with him, particularly with the medical department, and worked closely with Arsenal. We all agreed that this was the best way to gradually bring him back to full fitness. He has been completely pain-free for many days now and is ready to go, ready to start—just like Marcus, Antony, and Noni Madueke. We have many options. Yes, the form shown by the players makes it difficult for me to make a final decision, but tomorrow we will have all the options available.
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