Henry Winter’s World Cup Diary, Day 28
Miami
When Thomas Tuchel was appointed England manager, it was widely thought that he would not be properly judged until the knockout stages of the World Cup. Qualifying will be a breeze. The same goes for the group stage. The round of 32 match against Ghana is challenging, and the round of 16 match against Mexico is even more challenging. Given the quality of England’s game, most people’s pre-match expectations were that reaching the quarter-finals would be the bare minimum. reduce.
Now is the time for Tuchel to really be judged. Tonight’s game against Norway is where he can be fully evaluated. He must deal with potentially missing players to build a strong defense. He had to come up with a game plan to close Martin Odegaard’s room to operate. He must seal off the supply line from the center to the wide areas to Erling Haaland. He must respond to fluctuations in fortune during the game by adjusting tactics or carefully selecting substitutes.
Tuchel must use tactical pauses during hydration breaks to rejuvenate players or remind them of the game plan. He has to set the right tone and mood for his remarks in the locker room before kick-off, halftime or even the start of overtime. He must ensure that the players who have been pre-selected on the penalty-takers list are mentally prepared for the daunting challenge, the lonely walk across the midfield line and the potentially life-changing seconds in the spotlight.
Tuchel has the charisma, experience and smarts needed to achieve all of the above with the Miami Heat. Players have an emotional interaction with him and his staff. They listen. They like his positivity. They’ve seen his impact. The way he responded to an England side reduced to ten men in the Azteca Cup was a masterclass in crisis management: from adding Declan Rice at right-back to tightening up the defense and changing the system to bring on Jed Spencer, Dan Byrne and John Stones, all of whom immediately responded to the requirements, to the arrival of Morgan Rogers to bring energy to midfield and attack. Tuchel played his part in the game and stopped Mexico’s decline.
As Bukayo Saka said of their time under Tuchel and the 15 wins and 2 draws in 19 games, “It’s been fantastic. He’s been really good for us on this journey and you’ve seen the huge results we’ve achieved from qualifying to now. They’re making a huge World Cup”. We still had success in a huge World Cup. But Tuchel passed the ball. 2-1 England.
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Does Unai Simon get enough praise? Is it because Spain’s goalkeeper isn’t the most fashionable team at Athletic Club? Is it because so much of the focus in Spain is on Lamine Yamal and other creators? Is it because Simon didn’t even make the top ten list of goalkeepers for the 2025 Ballon d’Or Yashin Cup? However, Simon has just created the record for the longest clean sheet in the World Cup – 609 minutes. Simon downplayed the record, saying he had only faced seven or eight shots on target in that period.
Simon has to perform well for one very simple reason: David Raya, the best goalkeeper in the Premier League, is still on the bench for Spain. This level of competition must keep Simon on his toes and reflects the special nature of Spain’s No. 1 goalkeeper.
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England’s experience in hot and humid conditions, including at high altitude, will be translated into a report that will help Salina Wigman’s Lionesses when they travel to Brazil for the Women’s World Cup next summer.
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When the World Cup is over, much of the innovation from the World Cup will happily be left on the other side of the Atlantic. Are there any others worth considering? It would be great to see referee cameras used more widely in the Premier League. During the World Cup, broadcasters found success in adding studios outside stadiums. Especially for USMNT games, it provides a vibrant backdrop. Unfortunately, in the Premier League, there is always a risk of using some choice language or controversial logos. The assistant coach’s half-time insights deserve more evaluation.