ORLANDO, Fla. — Thomas Tuchel expressed that England is beginning to “click” as they gear up for the World Cup, adding that he feels poised to “come alive” once the tournament begins.
The Three Lions secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Costa Rica in Orlando, highlighted by goals from Declan Rice, Anthony Gordon, and substitute Ollie Watkins. The match was delayed for an hour due to lightning storms in the area.
England exhibited dominance throughout the match, controlling 80% possession and registering 28 shots, showcasing a significant improvement from their previous 1-0 triumph over New Zealand.
Jude Bellingham shone in the number ten position, with contributions from Gordon, Rice, and Elliot Anderson leading Tuchel’s squad to a commanding win.
Tuchel commented, “I mentioned before the match that we wanted to elevate our game in terms of intensity, commitment, and cohesion. We achieved that today.”
“The influence of the Arsenal players joining us was evident, as was the benefit of our training sessions. We’ve adapted to the heat and started to see everything coming together. We urged the players to take that next step, and they responded well. I’m proud of their performance.”
“Ultimately, our focus is on our style of play, and the results will follow. Today, we played at a high level.”
England has a closed-door match against Miami United scheduled for Thursday before the players receive a day off ahead of their travel to Kansas City. They will prepare for their Group L opener against Croatia next Wednesday in Dallas.
Reflecting on the training camp in Florida, Tuchel remarked, “I believe we set a positive tone in today’s meeting, and the players were eager to elevate their intensity and style of play, resulting in a great feeling, which we certainly achieved.”
“The energy in the stadium was incredible, and I thought, ‘If we can maintain this level of play, develop cohesion, brotherhood, and teamwork as demonstrated today, we’ll forge a fantastic bond with the fans.'”
“This should be an unforgettable experience for me, especially being my first World Cup. I’m excited as it approaches.”
“Once the games start, I think I’ll truly feel it, especially when we prepare for the official match in Kansas. The anticipation will build, but usually, that’s what I enjoy most — feeling alive in the moment.”
Rice noted that England’s commanding performance indicated their acclimatization to the high temperatures, which returned following the storm.
The Arsenal midfielder shared with ITV: “I think we’ve adjusted well. You can see that the heat isn’t much of a concern anymore. The first week or ten days involved getting used to it.”