Furious Thomas Tuchel tears into England stars for abandoning game plan in 1-0 win over NZ: ‘Not our style of play’

Thomas Tuchel pointed out that England attempted a lot of crosses and long-range efforts, which is usually not their playing approach.

Published on: Jun 7, 2026, 07:08:24 IST

Written by Neelav Chakravarti

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Thomas Tuchel was left fuming after England's narrow 1-0 victory against New Zealand in their pre-FIFA World Cup 2026 friendly fixture. The England manager slammed his players for playing 'too much freestyle' football during the match.

England manager Thomas Tuchel slammed his players. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

Harry Kane scored the solitary goal with a header in first-half stoppage time. Commenting on his team's performance, Tuchel said, "I'm OK with it. I'm not super happy about it. I liked the second half more than the first half. I think we had more bite in the second half, were more aggressive on and off the ball, created a bit more. Some good half-chances and some good penetrations into the box."

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"We played more from our positions and that's why we played with more speed. The first half we were out of positions and it was a bit too much freestyle. That slowed our game down and made it difficult for counter-press because we were not in the positions we wanted to be when we started attacking."

‘We were taking crosses, a lot of long-range shots’

Tuchel also pointed out that England attempted a lot of crosses and long-range efforts, which is usually not their playing approach.

"So that's basically the story of the match. We were taking crosses, a lot of long-range shots which is normally not our style of play. We played a lot of long balls, a lot of long passes. That was not part of training in the past four days. It was a bit of a mix of everything. That's why the first half looked as it looked," he said.

"To put it in context, a lot of our players played the last time together in November. So, it is half a year ago. We have [just] four training sessions together and we mixed the team up completely so we never played before in these combinations to give everyone 45 minutes. And then you have the conditions, the pitch, it can look like this."

The match also saw Rio Ngumoha become the fifth-youngest player to make his England debut, aged 17 years and 281 days.

Next up, England have a friendly against Croatia on Wednesday in Orlando, then head to their training camp in Kansas City. They begin their tournament on June 17 against Croatia in Dallas.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Neelav Chakravarti
Neelav Chakravarti has been part of the digital sports team at Hindustan Times since 2022, where he covers a wide range of disciplines, including chess, cricket, football, and Olympic sports. Working in a fast-paced digital newsroom, he regularly handles live blogs, breaking updates, and trending stories, combining speed with clarity to keep readers informed in real time. Chess remains both a professional beat and a personal passion for Neelav, and he closely tracks major international tournaments, player narratives, and emerging talents. He is particularly fascinated by the patience, calculation, and strategic depth the game demands, often exploring the psychological side of competition in his writing. Beyond sports journalism, Neelav has a deep interest in visual storytelling and filmmaking, actively participating in film festivals and engaging with independent cinema. He is especially drawn to films that capture the subtleties of everyday life and human relationships, appreciating storytelling that balances realism with emotional depth. This creative interest complements his approach to sports coverage, where he enjoys highlighting the human stories behind performances and results. A history enthusiast by academic training, Neelav holds a bachelor’s degree in the subject and maintains a sustained interest in ancient and medieval Indian history, particularly in cultural and social transitions across eras. His curiosity about the past often shapes his perspective on contemporary narratives and long-form storytelling. When he isn’t tracking scores or developing storylines, Neelav enjoys spending time over the chessboard, relaxing with his cats, or listening to the Empire podcast by Anita Anand and William Dalrymple. He also enjoys reading long-form sports writing that explores the emotional and cultural layers of sport, while maintaining a quiet routine that balances reading, reflection, and occasional time with friends.Read More

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