Thomas Tuchel has declared England ready for the World Cup after they cruised to an impressive 3-0 victory over Costa Rica in Orlando. The match, which was delayed by an hour due to storms at the Inter & Co Stadium, saw England deliver a polished performance in their final warm-up game.
Goals and Standout Performances
Declan Rice, Anthony Gordon, and Ollie Watkins scored the goals that sealed the win. However, it was Jude Bellingham who caught the eye with a dynamic display in the number 10 role, placing him in contention to start against Croatia in Dallas next Wednesday. Bellingham combined effectively with Harry Kane, Elliot Anderson, and Rice, showcasing both his quality on the ball and his workrate off it.
Tuchel's Reaction
Tuchel praised his side's intensity, commitment, and cohesion. 'I wished for that, I demanded that; I said before the match we want to push it to the next level,' he said. 'We could see the impact of the Arsenal players coming into camp and we could see the impact of training. We see the adaptation to the heat and we see things clicking.'
The head coach was particularly pleased with the team's response to the storm delay. 'The team did a lot to get the energy going. It was good for us to have a bit of a delay so we could adapt to that and see if it affects us,' he added.
Bellingham's Role
Bellingham was given the nod over Morgan Rogers at number 10, and Tuchel explained his decision: 'I wanted to see Jude in the combination today for the first time with Harry, Elliot, and Declan at the centre of the game. I know what Morgan gives us there, I just saw it so many times. It was the first time for Jude, and he buys into these ideas. He has to and he loves to do it, and that's part of our game.'
England will face Miami United in a behind-closed-doors game on Thursday before heading to their tournament base in Kansas City on Saturday. Tuchel believes the team is in a good place ahead of their Group L opener against Croatia. 'If we can really play like this and grow into the tournament and have this kind of cohesion and brotherhood and team spirit that we showed today, then we will have an amazing connection with the fans,' he said.
