Slaven Bilic has expressed concerns that Thomas Tuchel's style of play could ultimately cost England at the World Cup. The Three Lions begin their 2026 campaign on Wednesday evening against Croatia in Dallas.
This tournament marks England's first under Tuchel, who was tasked with ending the nation's long wait for silverware after Gareth Southgate led the team to semi-finals, quarter-finals, and consecutive European Championship finals.
Speaking to MailOnline, the former West Ham coach said: "I am impressed by Thomas Tuchel. He is a great manager but this is his first international job. I have to applaud him because he has made some brave decisions. He didn't call up the players the majority of coaches would have called."
He added: "But he has decided he wants the team to play a certain way, like a Premier League team. Nobody has done that before and nobody knows if it's going to work. And I am not sure. I really am not sure."
Despite his reservations, Bilic acknowledged England's strength, saying: "The pressure is always on England and we do know this every time. You have the strongest league. England is producing unbelievable quality players."
He also noted: "Based on history you are definitely not favourites, but your league is amazing. You won the Conference League, the Europa League and you were in the Champions League final. And it's not as though there are no Englishmen in those teams. You are dominating in club football and it goes back 20 years."
Bilic highlighted the pressure on both sides: "So that makes you favourites every time you come to these tournaments and yes it doesn't always help you. There is a big pressure on Croatia but the country is rooting for them. If they don't play well, they will kill them in the media."
He concluded: "But right now it's all support. I remember times in England when there was lot of talk before games about scandals and non-football things and this and that. The pressure can be too big for them. We have seen that."
Following their clash with Croatia, England will face Ghana and then Panama in their final group game.
