After suffering heartbreaking near misses under Gareth Southgate, England enter the North American World Cup as favorites, aiming to terminate a sixty-year wait for major silverware. In Group L, Thomas Tuchel’s men face a difficult opener against experienced semi-finalists Croatia, followed by clashes with Ghana and Panama.
Tuchel describes the first two nations as proud and strong, though he admits needing to study Panama further. Drawing on his Champions League experience, the German manager emphasizes the absolute necessity of winning the group.
England’s late June 17 start allows crucial recovery time for players in European finals, yet Tuchel warns this creates a condensed schedule later. The potential knockout path appears incredibly treacherous; should top seeds prevail, England could encounter Brazil in the quarter-finals and Argentina in the semi-finals. Despite these challenges, Tuchel remains confident his squad will be fully prepared to finally deliver the success that has long eluded them.