Months ahead of this World Cup, England’s coaches were already speaking about bringing a “heat-proof game model” to the tournament in a bid to combat the demanding conditions.
Manager Thomas Tuchel spent time in the United States, one of the tournament’s three host countries, during last year’s Club World Cup and said it was “unbelievably hot” and “very hostile conditions” to train and play.
However Anthony Barry, a member of Tuchel’s coaching staff, was cheered by the fact Chelsea went on to win the Club World Cup, saying last year:
💬 “European teams can go out there and win. And most importantly, an English team can go out there and win.
“But one thing’s for sure, in that heat, in that environment, a team (not individuals) will win it.
“Even if you build the top heat-proof model out in America, the environment out there does not facilitate world-class football.
“You’re not going to see the best team playing the best football. It simply doesn’t allow that.
“It will be won by a team because you’re going to have to suffer, you’re going to have to overcome obstacles. You’re going to have to do it together.”
We will see if this comes together for England too, over the coming weeks.
