Tuchel reveals half-time talk that inspired England's 4-2 World Cup win over Croatia
England secured a 4-2 victory over Croatia in their 2026 World Cup opening match, with manager Thomas Tuchel sharing details of his halftime approach. The teams went into the break level at 2-2 after Harry Kane's retaken penalty was cancelled out by Petar Musa's equalizer. In the dressing room, Tuchel emphasized staying calm and maintaining their playing style, telling players: 'We just conceded a goal. Calm down, calm their nerves and (then) encourage them to do it our way.' He added that his view of the team and their recent 17-day preparation would not change based on this single result. The second half saw goals from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford to clinch the three points for England. The win puts England in good position for their next group stage fixture as they seek to advance in the tournament.