A professional lip reader has revealed what Thomas Tuchel said during a passionate touchline rant before England came from behind to beat Norway 2-1 in their World Cup quarter-final on Saturday night. The Three Lions are now into the final four of the tournament for only the second time this generation, and just the fourth time in their history.
Jude Bellingham was once again England’s hero, scoring his fifth and sixth goals of the summer. No midfielder has found the net more often than the Real Madrid star during the tournament. His second of the night arrived in extra time and sparked jubilant scenes across the country, with players linking arms to sing ‘Wonderwall’ as anticipation began to build for Tuesday’s showdown with reigning champions Argentina.
But amid all the talk of Bellingham stepping up to the plate, far less has been said about Tuchel, who has played a pivotal role in England’s march to the semi-finals.
While Gareth Southgate used his feel-good factor and charisma to drive the nation’s rise to prominence and build an enviable house, his successor’s fierce, unrelenting edge and wealth of tournament know-how now appear to be putting the roof on it.
What Tuchel Told England Players During Hydration Break
A second-half hydration break afforded the German tactician the perfect opportunity to get his message across to his players. Nicola Hickling assessed the footage and told the Daily Mail that Tuchel said:
“Work harder. Go faster. You’re so static. You’re just standing. I need to tell you… Listen to the staff. We’ve got to fight for our positions. Listen to the staff. Keep the ball low. Less pushing, more focus on the ball. At corners, you’ve got to go right.
“Don’t come from the front [directed at Anthony Gordon]. Your best position is on the right – that’s a fact. Every time you come from the front, the ball gets lost. Now listen: keep right, stay right.”
Although it was initially their Viking opposition that came out of the blocks with more incentive following the hydration break, England did eventually click into gear to suffocate Norway during extra-time – though the curious substitution that saw Erling Haaland hooked off before the match’s conclusion undoubtedly also helped their case.
More to follow…
