Thomas Tuchel (53), the coach leading the England national team, sighed deeply ahead of the World Cup. With the team's key players getting injured one after another, he confessed that he is afraid even to watch football matches for the remaining two months.
ESPN reported on the 1st (Korea time) that Thomas Tuchel, England's coach, expressed concern about the injury problems that occurred during the March A match window.
England lost 0-1 to Japan on the 1st at Wembley Stadium in London, England. Earlier, they drew 1-1 with Uruguay. A draw and a loss in the final two friendlies before the World Cup squad announcement. Both performance and results fell short of expectations.
Above all, injuries were the problem. Captain Harry Kane was injured in training and rested for the Japan match. Jordan Henderson also returned to his club a day before the match.
In addition, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, John Stones and Adam Wharton were all ruled out of the squad due to injury. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Fikayo Tomori and Aaron Ramsdale, who featured against Uruguay, were left off the enlarged squad list.
According to ESPN, coach Tuchel said after the match, This weekend and the next two months I think I will be scared to watch football. From now on, even a single muscle injury could keep a player from going to the World Cup.
Tuchel was especially worried about the absence of the team's leaders. He said, Henderson is out, Rice and Saka are also not here. Kane has also been sidelined. In the end, the team's leadership group is all gone, adding, These players are club captains and set the standards for their teams. Such gaps have a big impact on the national team.
In fact, England faltered in this March international window. Under Tuchel, they recorded one draw and two losses against teams ranked inside the top 20 of the FIFA rankings. They lost to Senegal, drew with Uruguay and also lost to Japan.
Still, Tuchel has not given up hope. He said, This squad selection will not define us, and there is time over the next two months to reflect on this experience, draw lessons and get players back healthy.
He added, I hope every player returns healthy so we can make our best choices. And from June we will move toward our dream.
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