'Chip on shoulder' may help Bellingham to best form
Jude Bellingham believes external pressure can enhance his World Cup performance after scoring against Croatia.
BBC News1 min read
I tried to encourage them to go for it - Tuchel
TL;DR
England won their World Cup opener against Croatia 4-2, with Harry Kane scoring twice. Manager Thomas Tuchel's half-time message was pivotal in maintaining their lead after a 2-2 tie at the break.
Key points
- England beat Croatia 4-2 in their World Cup opener
- Harry Kane scored two goals for England
- Thomas Tuchel provided a crucial half-time message
- The score was tied 2-2 at half-time
Mentioned in this story
Thomas TuchelHarry KaneJude BellinghamMarcus Rashford
EnglandCroatia
Figure caption,
Highlights: England beat Croatia 4-2 in thriller
England players were on the receiving end of a half-time reproach from manager Thomas Tuchel as their World Cup campaign got off to a victorious start against Croatia.
Harry Kane's double and a goal apiece from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford ensured England secured a 4-2 win in Dallas.
But having taken the lead twice in the first half, the score was 2-2 at half-time and captain Kane said Tuchel delivered an important half-time message to the team.
He said on ITV: "I thought it was a game of two halves. In the first half, we were OK.
"[We were] really disappointed to concede in the way we did, I thought we dropped off.
"Credit to the manager, he gave us a speech at half-time and said if we lose, we lose in our way, and I think we saw that in the way we came out in the second half.
"We went full gas and they couldn't live with it. Credit to everyone for the first game of the tournament."
Figure caption,
England at 'best level' in second half against Croatia - Kane
In a separate interview with BBC Sport, the Bayern Munich striker added: "The boss said at half-time to up the tempo, go man for man and completely take the game to them, and that is exactly what happened.
"You saw us at our best level, both with and without the ball and we could have scored three or four goals in that 20-minute spell in the second half.
"We did what we needed to do and finished the game off nicely at the end."
Asked what he said to his team at half-time, Tuchel told ITV: "Even if we lose, it will not change my perception of the last 17 days, but let's do it our way.
"We were too focused on protecting the result. We were a back seven and we didn't defend. If the result doesn't go our way, we want to play our way.
"I tried to encourage them to go for it."
The half-time team talk seemed to have an almost immediate impact as Bellingham scored within two minutes of the restart to put England 3-2 ahead.
The Real Madrid midfielder told ITV: "It wasn't one of those where it was a big drama or standing up and shouting; it was what the team needed.
"We have a mature group with great leaders in there. Everyone knew the level we had to get to. The start of the second half gave us a great platform."
Figure caption,
Bellingham 'put noise aside' before England win over Croatia
Q&A
What was Thomas Tuchel's message to the England team at half-time?
Thomas Tuchel delivered an important half-time message aimed at encouraging the England players to maintain their focus and intensity.
Who scored the goals for England in the match against Croatia?
Harry Kane scored two goals, while Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford each added one, leading to a 4-2 victory.
What was the score at half-time in the England vs. Croatia match?
The score was tied 2-2 at half-time before England went on to win 4-2.
