England will not adapt style despite USA heat, Tuchel says

Thomas Tuchel says that he is “not ready to adapt” England’s playing style at the World Cup despite the heat – as it would “give up” the team’s strengths.

Since starting his job as head coach in January 2025, Tuchel has made a point of saying how much he likes the physicality of English domestic football and that the national side should replicate that style.

The 52-year-old’s squad selections have followed that thinking with an emphasis on physicality and powerful running when he picked his 26-man squad for the tournament.

“They want to be active with the ball,” the German told BBC Sport about his England side before their World Cup opener against Croatia on Wednesday (21:00 BST).

“We have a young group. We have a courageous group. We have a brave group of players.

“So let’s let’s go for it. I mean, no one guarantees you that we win. So we want to at least try it, our style and our belief.”

The temperatures in the USA, Mexico and Canada are extremely high and mandatory hydration breaks have been introduced in all matches, effectively breaking them into quarters.

And speaking at the news conference before the Croatia match, Tuchel said hydration breaks can “change the character of each half”.

He acknowledged the three-minute intervals give coaches chance to “change and reset” during games while delivering “group messages”.

Temperatures in Dallas will be more than 30C by the time England kick off their opening Group L game – but the effects of the heat will be reduced because the Dallas Stadium is one of the air-conditioned indoor venues being used at this World Cup.

And starting the tournament in that stadium has given Tuchel belief that his side can impose their style on Croatia “because we play indoors”.

But the England boss did reference the impact of the heat has had on his players at their Kansas City training base.

“Yesterday, it was very hot even here in training,” Tuchel said.

“And we could feel that it has a more impact than, for example, today. So let’s see.

“I’m just not ready to adapt into a different style of football because of circumstances that we cannot influence. I think we would just give up our strengths.”

Tuchel came to the USA for last year’s Club World Cup and, with the support team at the Football Association, used that tournament to plan England’s World Cup preparation.

“Research about the Club World Cup showed us that the style is pretty much the same, but maybe the repetition is less often,” he said.

“So maybe a player who has maybe 10 to 15% less sprints, less distance. It [the conditions] influenced the volume and the intensity but the style of play not so much.

“In the end we need to have an answer anyway to every scenario.

“So, will we be a lot in possession or will we attack a lot the last third of the opponent? Will they push us back and do we need to defend deep? We need to have answers to everything.”

Tuchel also explained why he decided to call up Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah in place of the injured Tino Livramento, who had to pull out of the squad with a calf issue.

“Tino was of course very disappointed and very sad, all of us were,” Tuchel said.

“It was kind of a shock in training and when he stopped training and he had the feeling that this could be an injury that costs him the tournament and he was unfortunately right.

“We called Trevoh Chalobah because we then free up Jarell Quansah as a full-back on both sides and Djed Spence can be a full-back on both sides.

“Trevoh comes as a centre-back alternative and gives us full coverage in the back four.”

Captain Harry Kane is set to earn his 115th England cap on Wednesday – which would put him joint-third on the Three Lions’ all-time appearance list, alongside former skipper David Beckham, and behind only Peter Shilton and Wayne Rooney.

The Bayern Munich striker said he has “momentum” coming into the tournament after a season where he scored 61 goals in 51 club appearances, winning the German league and cup double.

“To reach the same number of caps [as Beckham] is a great thing for me,” Kane said.

“Beckham was a big idol of mine growing up and obviously hoping and dreaming one day that I would be in the same England shirt as him, that will be a great milestone to hit for sure.”

Kane is one five players in the current England squad who featured in the 2018 World Cup semi-final defeat against Croatia, who are set to feature midfield great Luka Madric – the Ballon d’Or winner that year – who turned 40 last September.

“Some of the players like [Cristiano] Ronaldo, [Lionel] Messi and Modric, being able to do it for 20-plus years is what truly separates the good players from the great players,” Kane said.

“I’m extremely proud of being here again and being in my sixth tournament and I think being in the shape that I am in.

“During the career I don’t I will ever think anything different. Maybe in 10 years or so I will look back at everything I have been able to do.”