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ATLANTA ― England's first and only World Cup title was 60 years ago. Still, manager Thomas Tuchel says his team isn't feeling any pressure ahead of its matchup with DR Congo (Noon ET, FOX) ― or maybe it is.
Tuchel says the football played in the knockout rounds can be "astounding," but maintains that's just the nature of the round of 32.
"I think it can calm us down in a way. It’s just narrow margins. It’s just tight football matches, and it helps us not to overexpect," Tuchel said Tuesday.
"Teams are well-drilled. Teams defend on (the) highest level. Teams are well prepared, and it's difficult for any team to break teams down, especially when you arrive as (a) favorite, especially when you face teams who have nothing to lose.
"That's just it. For me, and for us, it almost helps us to calm our minds, to accept the situation and make the most of it."
Four games in the knockout round have already included goals in the 85th minute or later. Canada's Stephen Eustáquio scored in the 92nd minute. Brazil's Gabriel Martinelli? The 96th minute. Morocco's Issa Diop? A gritty header in the 91st minute. Norway's Erling Haaland managed to find critical separation from the Ivory Coast at the 86th minute, a gift from the football gods.
Two games needed penalty kicks to determine a winner, including Paraguay's historic upset of Germany. That's a trend that could continue against DR Congo at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a club that stunned Portugal with a 1-1 draw in its opening game, and only conceded one goal to Colombia. The immense pressure that comes with needing to end a match via penalty has created some high-stakes mistakes on the sport's biggest stage. For England, penalty kicks are part of the journey.
“I think it's very difficult to simulate pressure. So we train what we can train," Tuchel said. "It’s just an important and very specific part of football that comes into place in knockout matches. We are prepared. We know the players and the coaches know the process. We are prepared as much as you can prepare (for) it ... it comes down to execution, it comes down to repetitive action. It’s a set piece. So of course, we train."
Even if England isn't forced into a penalty kick, it's facing a DR Congo team that it described as very compact, physical and dangerous in its counterattacks, requiring the Three Lions to be disciplined in their defending. England says it will not be overconfident ahead of Thursday's match, and it respects the opponent and will not look past it.
From England's lens, DR Congo has already "overachieved" during its World Cup journey, and when a team is already in the moment of overachieving and has genuine belief in what it can do, it makes them difficult to play against.
"So, the pressure, you've got to enjoy that pressure," goalkeeper Jordan Pickford said. "It brings out the best in us, and for me, I feel like it's always brought out the best out of me in pressure situations, and people's got to step up, and that's what I think we do as England."
"I love these situations. I feel it (is) a privilege to be in these situations," Tuchel added.
"I think we can just accept it. We are the favorites. We play against our very own expectations. We expect from us to go further than (the) round of 32. That's just how it is ... We don't need to do extra stuff, we just need to be the best version of ourselves.
"We don't need anything extra now in these stages, but trust and believe in ourselves ... We have a fantastic, experienced group. Of course, we're nervous, and of course, we feel the pressure."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: England knows DR Congo has 'nothing to lose' in World Cup round of 32
Continue reading...
Tuchel says the football played in the knockout rounds can be "astounding," but maintains that's just the nature of the round of 32.
"I think it can calm us down in a way. It’s just narrow margins. It’s just tight football matches, and it helps us not to overexpect," Tuchel said Tuesday.
"Teams are well-drilled. Teams defend on (the) highest level. Teams are well prepared, and it's difficult for any team to break teams down, especially when you arrive as (a) favorite, especially when you face teams who have nothing to lose.
"That's just it. For me, and for us, it almost helps us to calm our minds, to accept the situation and make the most of it."
Four games in the knockout round have already included goals in the 85th minute or later. Canada's Stephen Eustáquio scored in the 92nd minute. Brazil's Gabriel Martinelli? The 96th minute. Morocco's Issa Diop? A gritty header in the 91st minute. Norway's Erling Haaland managed to find critical separation from the Ivory Coast at the 86th minute, a gift from the football gods.
Two games needed penalty kicks to determine a winner, including Paraguay's historic upset of Germany. That's a trend that could continue against DR Congo at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a club that stunned Portugal with a 1-1 draw in its opening game, and only conceded one goal to Colombia. The immense pressure that comes with needing to end a match via penalty has created some high-stakes mistakes on the sport's biggest stage. For England, penalty kicks are part of the journey.
“I think it's very difficult to simulate pressure. So we train what we can train," Tuchel said. "It’s just an important and very specific part of football that comes into place in knockout matches. We are prepared. We know the players and the coaches know the process. We are prepared as much as you can prepare (for) it ... it comes down to execution, it comes down to repetitive action. It’s a set piece. So of course, we train."
Even if England isn't forced into a penalty kick, it's facing a DR Congo team that it described as very compact, physical and dangerous in its counterattacks, requiring the Three Lions to be disciplined in their defending. England says it will not be overconfident ahead of Thursday's match, and it respects the opponent and will not look past it.
From England's lens, DR Congo has already "overachieved" during its World Cup journey, and when a team is already in the moment of overachieving and has genuine belief in what it can do, it makes them difficult to play against.
"So, the pressure, you've got to enjoy that pressure," goalkeeper Jordan Pickford said. "It brings out the best in us, and for me, I feel like it's always brought out the best out of me in pressure situations, and people's got to step up, and that's what I think we do as England."
"I love these situations. I feel it (is) a privilege to be in these situations," Tuchel added.
"I think we can just accept it. We are the favorites. We play against our very own expectations. We expect from us to go further than (the) round of 32. That's just how it is ... We don't need to do extra stuff, we just need to be the best version of ourselves.
"We don't need anything extra now in these stages, but trust and believe in ourselves ... We have a fantastic, experienced group. Of course, we're nervous, and of course, we feel the pressure."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: England knows DR Congo has 'nothing to lose' in World Cup round of 32
Continue reading...
