Tuchel: England won't change style despite US heat

England manager Thomas Tuchel has stated that he will not alter his team's playing style at the World Cup despite the extreme heat in the United States, arguing that doing so would mean giving up the squad's strengths.

Since taking over as head coach in January 2025, Tuchel has consistently praised the physicality of English domestic football and has sought to replicate that approach with the national team. His squad selections have reflected this philosophy, with an emphasis on strength and powerful running in the 26-man roster for the tournament.

Tuchel's commitment to style

Speaking ahead of England's World Cup opener against Croatia on Wednesday (21:00 BST), Tuchel told BBC Sport: "They want to be active with the ball. We have a young group. We have a courageous group. We have a brave group of players. So let's go for it. I mean, no-one guarantees you that we win. So we want to at least try it, our style and our belief."

The tournament is being hosted across the USA, Mexico, and Canada, where temperatures have been extremely high. Mandatory hydration breaks have been introduced in all matches, effectively splitting each half into two quarters. Tuchel acknowledged that these breaks "can change the character of each half" and give coaches a three-minute window to "change and reset" while delivering "group messages."

Heat and preparation

In Dallas, where England will kick off their Group L campaign, temperatures are expected to exceed 30°C by kickoff. However, the Dallas Stadium is one of several air-conditioned indoor venues at this World Cup, which Tuchel believes will help his side impose their style on Croatia "because we play indoors."

Nevertheless, the England boss noted the impact of the heat on his players during training at their Kansas City base. "Yesterday, it was very hot even here in training," Tuchel said. "And we could feel that it has a more impact than, for example, today. So let's see. I'm just not ready to adapt into a different style of football because of circumstances that we cannot influence. I think we would just give up our strengths."

Tuchel attended last year's Club World Cup in the US and, together with the Football Association's support team, used that tournament to plan England's World Cup preparation. "Research about the Club World Cup showed us that the style is pretty much the same, but maybe the repetition is less often," he explained. "So maybe a player who has maybe 10 to 15% less sprints, less distance. It [the conditions] influenced the volume and the intensity but the style of play not so much. In the end we need to have an answer anyway to every scenario. So, will we be a lot in possession or will we attack a lot the last third of the opponent? Will they push us back and do we need to defend deep? We need to have answers to everything."

Squad changes and milestone

Tuchel also addressed the decision to call up Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah as a replacement for the injured Tino Livramento, who withdrew from the squad with a calf issue. "Tino was of course very disappointed and very sad. All of us were," Tuchel said. "It was kind of a shock in training and when he stopped training and he had the feeling that this could be an injury that costs him the tournament and he was unfortunately right. We called Trevoh Chalobah because we then free up Jarell Quansah as a full-back on both sides and Djed Spence can be a full-back on both sides. Trevoh comes as a centre-back alternative and gives us full coverage in the back four."

Captain Harry Kane is set to earn his 115th England cap on Wednesday, which would place him joint-third on the all-time appearance list alongside former captain David Beckham, behind only Peter Shilton and Wayne Rooney.