England open World Cup against Croatia as Tuchel urges calm and Kane chases an American dream

The coach's approach

Thomas Tuchel has promised not to "overdo" motivation ahead of England's World Cup opener against Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday. The German head coach said the players do not need extra "emotional fuel" to remind them of the stakes, describing the squad as already operating at a very high level on and off the pitch. Tuchel, who is taking charge of his first World Cup, believes the occasion itself will lift performance.

We always try to raise the level, but the level is already very high, on and off the pitch. Both levels are very high. So if I had a wish now, I would like to just keep it, not overdo it.

Tuchel's confidence stems from what he has seen in training. He wants England to play with the intensity of a Premier League side and to rely on the tension of a competitive fixture to bring out their best. The buildup has included a pre-tournament camp in Florida to acclimatise to the heat, followed by final preparations at the team base in Kansas City. Tuchel is expected to start Jude Bellingham over Morgan Rogers in the No 10 role.

Kane's American connection

Harry Kane will lead England into his third World Cup, carrying a personal affinity for American sports culture that stretches back over a decade. Kane first became drawn to the NFL in 2011, watching the documentary The Brady 6 about Tom Brady's path from overlooked draft pick to Super Bowl champion. He travelled to Atlanta in 2019 to see Brady's Patriots win a sixth title and was invited to the team party afterward. Kane has described the American dream as a belief that anyone can achieve success if they pursue it with all their heart.

The only regrets you can have coming away from tournaments is that you didn't go for it. You can make mistakes, you can miss penalties like I've missed, but I don't think those are the moments that stop you from sleeping at night.

Kane plans to tell his teammates to "go with freedom" against Croatia. The match will be played at the home of the Dallas Cowboys, a venue the Guardian describes as a thrillingly vast concrete dome with the feel of a humid tropical shed.

The contract and the FA

Tuchel's position carries a formal performance dimension. FA chief executive Mark Bullingham has confirmed that the head coach's two-year contract extension, agreed earlier this year to take him through to Euro 2028, is subject to performance clauses. Bullingham declined to give details but said the FA can hold Tuchel to the deal. Tuchel was originally appointed in 2024 with the remit to win the World Cup.

There's performance clauses in every single contract at the FA, but I'm not going into any detail of what they are.

Identity and the 'impossible job'

Tuchel is not weighed down by the ghosts of England tournaments past, the Guardian notes. He does not sing the national anthem, saying he feels too shy, though he knows the words. His predecessor Gareth Southgate treated the role almost as a higher calling, writing an open letter about society's divisions. Tuchel, by contrast, carries the title of head coach rather than manager and is not interested in politics. His background means he is unburdened by English baggage, but he is no longer an outsider either, he "loves" England, according to the Independent, a feeling sparked during his time at Chelsea when empty Covid-era stadiums let him hear every shouted instruction from the touchline.

I see it even as an advantage that we're very focused on what we can actually influence. We don't put it in the bigger picture — just put it where it is. Prepare, and go day by day, and influence what you can influence.

The opposition

Croatia present a familiar challenge. England have faced them before in major tournaments and must be wary of the craft of Mateo Kovacic and the experience of a 40-year-old Luka Modric. England's record against top-20 sides under Tuchel has been mixed: a draw with Uruguay and defeats to Japan and Senegal. Yet Tuchel believes a competitive match will produce a different mindset. The Group L opener kicks off at 21:00 BST on Wednesday at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas.