England's Tuchel Adopts Hands-Off Approach to Keep Attack Firing at World Cup

England manager Thomas Tuchel has revealed his philosophy of not "disturbing" his forward players as the team prepares for its second Group L match against Ghana at the 2026 World Cup. Speaking after an impressive 4-2 opening victory over Croatia, Tuchel credited his attackers for arriving at the tournament with the right mindset and said his coaching staff's role is to maintain that confidence.

Tuchel drew a parallel with Dutch orchestra conductor Bernard Haitink, explaining that just as a conductor should not disturb the musicians, he aims to give his attacking players freedom on the pitch. "We don't disturb the players and don't disturb the match," Tuchel said. "Just encourage them and encourage them to play with freedom, especially in the attacking position." The manager also praised the team's defensive work, highlighting the high press executed in the second half against Croatia.

The England squad received a fitness boost as Bukayo Saka recovers from an Achilles issue. Tuchel confirmed that Saka "feels no more pain" after completing two full training sessions at the highest level, though he declined to reveal whether the winger would start or feature from the bench against Ghana. Noni Madueke, who impressed on the right wing against Croatia, is expected to retain his place in the starting lineup.

Competition on the left wing is intense, with Anthony Gordon and Marcus Rashford vying for a starting spot. Tuchel described their relationship as an "amazing dynamic," noting that they compete with respect and friendship. He highlighted the team spirit, recalling that Gordon was among the first off the bench to congratulate Rashford after his goal against Croatia. "That's the spirit and that's what everyone buys into," Tuchel said.

England's next challenge comes against Ghana, a match Tuchel expects to pose different questions than Croatia. "I predict a little bit of a different game than Croatia because of the different approach of Ghana," he said. "We have to be ready to find answers to any question that is asked." Tuchel also faces a decision on his centre-back pairing, with Marc Guehi pushing for a starting place.