England’s head coach Thomas Tuchel has downplayed suggestions that the national team’s shirt is weighing down players in the ongoing FIFA World Cup. The Three Lions registered a thrilling 2-1 win against Congo DR in the round of 32 to keep themselves alive in the tournament.
England was under the cosh after Brian Cipenga scored the game’s opener in the seventh minute. After the hydration break, England catapulted a wave of attacks but Mpasi Nzau was able to keep Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford at bay.
It was as late as the 75th minute when England found a equaliser through their captain Harry Kane’s header and their fans started breathing again. Kane once again stepped up as a leader and found the back of the net with a thundering strike in the 86th minute to seal off the game for his team.
“I did not see any of that today and it would be so easy to see it,” England head coach Tuchel said when asked if pressure of playing for the national team is weighing the team down.
“It would be so easy, and it would be so easy to give in, and it would be so easy to accept that narrative. I didn’t see any of that, and that is a very, very good sign.”
England had to wait and show a lot of patience before scoring at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where they won a first World Cup match after conceding the opening goal since beating Germany in the 1966 final.
“That’s a good sign,” Tuchel said with a smile. “Thanks for telling me.
“It just shows you the level of determination, belief and focus. It fits into my narrative that I didn’t feel the weight on their shoulders.
“I found we played with exactly the right attitude. We trusted our spirit. We brought the right energy and spirit to the stadium. And the dressing room. That is the big takeaway from today.”
England will now travel to Mexico City to take on co-hosts Mexico, and they will have to play at 2000 metres above sea level, which is going to be challenging.
“I am just coming from this match and trying to enjoy, but it is maybe one of the most beautiful fixtures, most exciting fixtures than you can have,” Tuchel said.
“You play against Mexico in the Azteca, and there will be a lot, a lot, a lot of obstacles waiting for us.
“Not to mention the altitude will be, of course, a big disadvantage, because we cannot physically adapt to it in four days. It’s just impossible and more obstacles will maybe come.
“But we are ready for that, we need it maybe. We have the ideal platform now to genuinely believe that we are ready for that, and when the going gets tough, that we will find the answers.”
