Thomas Tuchel: England manager discusses Harry Kane’s fitness, player transfers and Tampa Bay pitch concerns ahead of New Zealand friendly | Football News

Thomas Tuchel gave his first World Cup press conference since touching down with the England team in the United States – and there was a lot to cover.

The Three Lions are fewer than two weeks away from their World Cup opener against Croatia on June 17 – and a few more questions could be answered ahead of their first warm-up game on Saturday.

England take on New Zealand in Tampa Bay in their first match of what they hope to be a memorable, record-breaking summer.

During his first press conference in the USA, Tuchel…

• Gave permission for his England players to secure club transfers during the tournament
• Showed some concern about the pitch ahead of the New Zealand friendly on Saturday
• Has backed Harry Kane’s fitness to play plenty of minutes during the tournament
• Claimed Ivan Toney’s training sessions so far have justified his surprise selection
• Said he has a group of 14 to 15 players who are in the running to start the first World Cup game
• Displayed concern about IFAB changing so many rules going into this World Cup

See below for more of what the England manager had to say…

‘Players can secure transfers during World Cup – ideally before Croatia’

Tuchel has many England players who are the subject of intense transfer speculation going into this tournament – which could lead to a distraction.

Morgan Rogers, Elliot Anderson and Marcus Rashford are among many Three Lions players looking for a move, while John Stones is currently without a club.

However, the England manager will not stand in any way of a player making a move during this World Cup – as long as they play by his rules.

“It’s about common sense,” he said. “I would not like [transfer business being done on] the day before a match, or on a matchday, that’s the policy. Maybe two days before too, but let’s see.

“But everything else – if it’s done privately, efficiently and quietly – then we are always happy to help. It helps to have clarity around any player. If anyone has a chance to complete a change of club we will not stand in their way.

“But it has to align with our schedule and our goals, which is to be focused and prepared for matches. No player has approached me yet but our doctor is ready to do any medicals!”

Asked if he wants all transfer business done before the first World Cup game on June 17, Tuchel replied: “It would be ideal but that’s not real life.

“The question is how much to worry. If I told players to not deal with it now, their telephone will still blow up. How do we want to control that?

“I’m always there to help, I’m always there to calm things down. We should help them to have their own environment where they can handle the distraction and dive in, concentrate and do the most to fulfil their role we have made for them.

“I can see the distraction if clubs want to sign you, and sporting directors, agents and coaches are trying to get you on the phone. It’s a reality.

“We will always recommend a player to take a decision before a tournament starts and as early as possible, but it’s not always possible for the player. We’re not alone in this, it’s just how it plays out.”

‘I’m a little bit concerned about Tampa Bay pitch’

There is also some concern about the playing turf that awaits England ahead of Saturday’s World Cup warm-up with New Zealand.

Images have surfaced online about the worrying Tampa Bay pitch that awaits the players. While Tuchel has not seen the pitch first hand, he did express some concern when a journalist showed him a photograph of it.

The England manager said that they could change their plans if the playing surface is poor.

“I just saw it now. It will not affect my team selection,” Tuchel said. “What I heard up to now is that it will be OK.

“I saw a photo from a journalist which made me a little bit concerned but let’s decide when we are there. If there are any issues we can always react to it.

“The plan is to play 45 minutes with two complete teams, to expose everyone to the same amount of minutes. Then we can continue for the next three days with the same load in training. That is the plan and at the moment we are sticking to it.”

‘Don’t worry about Kane’s fitness this summer’

England’s World Cup chances could come down to captain Harry Kane’s form up front. But there have been historical concerns about his fitness.

During the Euro 2024 campaign, Kane looked a tired figure at the top end of the pitch – and was often substituted before the end of normal time for one of Ollie Watkins or Ivan Toney.

This time around, Tuchel has shut down any concerns.

“Harry is a key player, there is no doubt,” he said. “We take care of him but we also want him on the pitch.

“Ideally we can take some minutes off him, but if the matches are close do we really do this? Do we take our main goalscorer, our captain off? Maybe not.

“The most important thing is the shape Harry is in. He’s in top shape, he is ready to go. He was the leading player who set the intensity in training today, on a defensive training day. He’s used to high pressing, high intensity in the opponent’s half with Bayern Munich.

“We don’t have to be worried about him at all, even if it’s hot and humid. He’s shown the whole week he is ready, determined, he was so influential in Bayern’s campaign, he scored three in the cup final.

“We have some good options but Harry is the main guy up front.”

‘Toney has justified World Cup selection’

Tuchel also gave some insight into how the other two strikers will operate during the tournament.

In his mind, Watkins is the back-up starter option for Kane – and will be used if the England captain is not able to start.

Toney, meanwhile, is an option if England want to play another striker alongside Kane. Tuchel – who surprisingly called up the Saudi Arabia-based striker – claimed Toney’s training performances have justified his selection.

“The other No 9s are very different players,” Tuchel said. “Ollie Watkins is more the guy maybe to start instead of Harry, to keep the intensity and press going.

“Ivan is kind of a finisher for us – maybe with a special task to take the attention of defenders off Harry, we can play with a second striker. He is very good in the box, good with set-pieces, good penalty taker and trains at a high level.

“I’m very happy with him, he’s shown it was right to take him. He has a brilliant attitude and good training sessions through the whole week.

“We had a lot of positive feedback about his role in the last tournament, and in club football. He’s a guy who easily connects with everyone in the group, he’s respected by everyone.

“We had one or two honest conversations, if he can handle the role, if he’d be happy to have the role we can offer him. He was very believable and said he would be happy straight away to join.

“He has a big personality, he is one of the world’s best penalty takers. He just showed in training matches he is very calm in finishing, one-touch, two-touch.

“He gives something to the group that we can use. We have someone we can use if the game is around the opponent’s box to play with Harry, and to be very offensive.

“He agreed with all that, his standing with the group was never in doubt because the feedback from his coaches, his former coaches, staff members and team members was always absolutely positive. He’s proved that.”

‘Fourteen or 15 players are in running for World Cup starting XI’

Tuchel has told his players not to think about the World Cup opener with Croatia on June 17 – but the England head coach did talk about how close he is to knowing his starting XI for that game.

While he claims that fringe players can still make their way in, he is three or four players away from his first big decision of the tournament.

“I am still processing it,” he said. “I don’t want to narrow it down and then we have maybe a slight injury worry or someone is carrying something who is not confident and it just freaks me out!

“We will always take last decisions, but I have a clear idea of 14 or 15 starters who can and should start for us and carry this team.

“We will always have this pool of players to choose from, and to choose from also what we see from the energy, who is in shape, who is in form, who fits the opponent better.

“I had a detailed look already at Croatia over the last weeks, but the last week has been completely about us and our behaviours. I will dive into this subject when we go to Kansas and prepare from then.”

‘I’m a bit worried about the IFAB rule changes’

Finally, Tuchel also expressed some concern about the rule changes that have been made ahead of this World Cup.

Refereeing governing body IFAB announced a raft of rule changes for the World Cup, including expanded powers for VAR, 10-second substitutions and clamping down on tactical timeouts and time-wasting rules.

Tuchel admitted that he did not fully understand all of the new rulings during a recent meeting with IFAB.

“There are a lot of changes of rules,” he said. “We have another meeting [with IFAB] next week. I had a meeting already, I’m not sure I understood everything correctly. It was quite a lot.

“I was a little bit worried that it’s quite a lot in a subjective manner for the referee to decide. I have a fear for the referees to have a lot of additional decisions to make on the pitch. I’m not sure if all of them give us more clarity.

“I can see the urge to have more clarity but I’m not sure these changes so short before a tournament will encourage that. Let’s see.”

One of the rule changes involves grappling in the penalty box at corners. There is a new rule that holding in the penalty area can be penalised before the ball enters the field of play.

“We will of course play by the rules,” Tuchel said. “We are aware that in the Premier League, the corners and set pieces are more physical than other countries. But I think that’s a normal thing. In Europa League and Champions League, the refereeing is a bit different. Then you adapt.

“Blocking before a ball is in play, let’s see. It’s a strength of ours. We will make the best out of it. It’s just a way to do it. Every team will try to do it.

“Hopefully we will find a consistent way to referee it. That’s what everyone looks for – just consistency. It’s difficult enough for everyone with new rules and hopefully we get more clarity. But it’s not always the case when everything is at short notice. We will get our head around it.”